New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) The 9th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Italy took place in New Delhi on Friday, focusing on a wide range of bilateral cooperation and discussing several regional and global issues of shared concern.

Officials from both nations expressed their satisfaction with the strengthening strategic partnership between India and the European Union (EU) and welcomed the successful conclusion of the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations. They also acknowledged the signing of the Security and Defence Partnership and the Comprehensive Framework on Cooperation on Mobility. Topics of discussion included significant developments in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and other pertinent global and regional matters.

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), "The FOC served as a platform to evaluate and discuss the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation along with regional and global issues of mutual relevance. Both parties expressed contentment regarding the progress of the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) for 2025-29, particularly in the domains of trade and economy, technology, space, research & innovation, defence and security, counter-terrorism, renewable energy, education, and people-to-people ties."

Both nations concurred on the swift execution of the India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism, aligning with their mutual commitment to combat terrorism in a thorough and sustained manner. They are also collaborating to initiate the first Maritime Security Dialogue aimed at enhancing cooperation for safety, security, and growth in the maritime sector.

The discussions also emphasized the need to fortify collaboration in skilling and mobility, especially within the healthcare sector, under the Migration and Mobility Agreement. The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (West) of the MEA, Sibi George, while the Italian delegation was headed by Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere, Director General for Globalisation and Global issues at Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

This round of Foreign Office Consultations occurred against the backdrop of ongoing and frequent high-level engagements between the two countries. Recent meetings included interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, along with a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Delhi in December 2025.

The MEA noted, "Bilateral relations between India and Italy are on a positive trajectory, with consistent high-level interactions, ministerial dialogues, and increasing engagements in the private sector. Both nations look forward to ongoing collaboration, including regular meetings of institutional mechanisms in trade and investment, defence, science, and technology, ensuring the timely execution of the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) across all areas to further strengthen the India-Italy strategic partnership. The next round of Foreign Office Consultations is to be held in Italy on mutually agreeable dates."