Counter-terrorism moved to the forefront of the India-Italy bilateral agenda on Thursday, as the two countries pledged to fast-track a joint mechanism aimed at cutting off financing to terrorist networks.
According to an official statement released after the 9th India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi, both sides agreed on the “expeditious implementation” of their Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism—a commitment framed within their broader resolve to fight terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.
The talks were led by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere, Director General for Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania at Italy’s foreign ministry.
The consultations, the statement said, were underpinned by a period of intensifying high-level engagement—including a Modi-Meloni meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in Johannesburg last November and a Delhi meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani in December 2025.
Beyond counter-terrorism, the two sides reviewed progress under the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-2029, expressing satisfaction at gains across trade, technology, space, defence, renewable energy and people-to-people ties. A first-ever India-Italy Maritime Security Dialogue is also in the works, aimed at bolstering cooperation across the maritime domain, the statement noted.
On the India-EU front, both countries welcomed the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership, urging early implementation of the FTA.
The statement also flagged a shared push to deepen collaboration in skilling, mobility and healthcare under the bilateral Migration and Mobility Agreement.
Describing the relationship as being on an “upward trajectory,” both sides agreed the next round of consultations would be held in Italy.