India, Italy navies discuss institutionalising bilateral exercises and Indo-Pacific cooperation
Synopsis
India and Italy are moving beyond bilateral pleasantries into structured naval architecture — with talks on formalising exercises, Staff Talks, and operational interoperability now underway. Combined with a joint counter-terrorism task force meeting and an Italian warship docking in Mumbai, the week signals that the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership is graduating from a diplomatic label into a defence reality.
Key Takeaways
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan met Italian Navy Chief Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto in New Delhi on 23 October 2026 .
Talks focused on institutionalising bilateral naval exercises, Staff Talks, and Indo-Pacific maritime security cooperation.
Italian MPCS 'Giovanni delle Bande Nere' arrived in Mumbai on 21 October as part of Italy's Indo-Pacific operational deployment.
India and Italy held their sixth JWG on Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime on 6–7 October in New Delhi.
Both sides condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack of 22 April 2025 and discussed countering misuse of emerging technologies for terrorism.
The engagements signal the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership is entering an active implementation phase.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan met Italian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto in New Delhi on Friday, 23 October 2026, for talks aimed at formalising navy-to-navy engagements and deepening operational cooperation between the two countries. The meeting advances the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership and signals growing alignment on Indo-Pacific maritime security.
Ceremonial Welcome and Key Agenda
Admiral Bergotto was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block Lawns before the talks commenced. Discussions centred on institutionalising bilateral naval exercises and Staff Talks, enhancing maritime interoperability, and expanding cooperation on shared multilateral security priorities. The Indian Navy Spokesperson confirmed the agenda on X, noting that the two sides also explored strengthening professional exchanges through training programmes and the sharing of best practices.
Italian Warship's Mumbai Port Call
The high-level meeting follows the arrival of the Italian Navy's Multi-Purpose Combat Ship (MPCS) 'Giovanni delle Bande Nere' in Mumbai on 21 October, as part of Italy's operational deployment in the Indo-Pacific. Consul General of Italy in Mumbai Walter Ferrara welcomed the vessel on behalf of Italy. Italy's Consulate General stated that the ship's visit was aimed at 'promoting naval diplomacy, international cooperation and Italy's excellence in defence technology and innovation,' while underscoring Italy's commitment to protecting maritime communication lines and safeguarding freedom of navigation.
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Also on the Table
The naval engagement comes on the heels of substantive security discussions held earlier this month. On 6–7 October, the two sides concluded the sixth meeting of the India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime and the second meeting of the India-Italy Permanent Task Force on Countering Financing of Terrorism in New Delhi. The talks covered counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, and emerging regional and global terrorist threats.
The sessions were co-chaired by Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Counter Terrorism, and Paolo Mari, Joint Secretary for G7-G20 and Transnational Threats at Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MEA stated that both countries condemned terrorism in all its forms, reiterating their condemnation of the Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir terrorist attack of 22 April 2025. The two sides also discussed capacity building and information exchange to counter the misuse of emerging technologies — including financial and communication technologies — for terrorist purposes.
Broader Context: Indo-Pacific Geometry Shifting
This comes amid a broader recalibration of European navies' engagement with the Indo-Pacific. Italy, a G7 partner, has been expanding its maritime footprint east of the Suez as part of its strategic alignment with like-minded democracies. For India, deepening ties with a major NATO and EU member reinforces its multi-vector foreign policy and its role as a preferred security partner in the region. Notably, the naval talks and the counter-terrorism JWG signal that the India-Italy relationship is evolving well beyond trade and cultural ties into hard-security territory.
What Comes Next
Both navies are expected to formalise a schedule of bilateral exercises and Staff Talks in the coming months. The outcomes of the counter-terrorism task force meetings are also likely to feed into upcoming India-EU and India-G7 security dialogues. The pace of engagements suggests that the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership, elevated in recent years, is moving into an implementation phase.
Point of View
A warship port call, and a counter-terrorism task force — are too choreographed to be coincidental. Italy is clearly investing in its Indo-Pacific presence, and India is a willing anchor for that ambition. What mainstream coverage underplays is the counter-terrorism dimension: the Pahalgam condemnation and the financing-of-terrorism task force signal that this is becoming a full-spectrum security partnership, not just a maritime one. The open question is whether these institutional frameworks will be backed by treaty-level commitments or remain in the softer register of joint statements and MoUs.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did India and Italy discuss in their naval chiefs' meeting on 23 October 2026?
The two sides discussed institutionalising navy-to-navy engagements including bilateral naval exercises and Staff Talks, deepening operational cooperation and interoperability, expanding multilateral maritime security cooperation, and strengthening professional exchanges through training and best-practice sharing. The talks were held under the framework of the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership.
Why did an Italian warship visit Mumbai in October 2026?
The Italian Navy's Multi-Purpose Combat Ship 'Giovanni delle Bande Nere' arrived in Mumbai on 21 October as part of Italy's operational deployment in the Indo-Pacific. The visit was aimed at promoting naval diplomacy, international cooperation, and Italy's defence technology capabilities, according to Italy's Consulate General in Mumbai.
What is the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership?
It is a bilateral framework that elevates India-Italy relations beyond trade and cultural ties into strategic and security cooperation. Recent months have seen it expand into naval engagement, counter-terrorism coordination, and multilateral Indo-Pacific security discussions.
What did India and Italy agree on counter-terrorism?
At their sixth Joint Working Group meeting on Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime held on 6–7 October in New Delhi, both countries condemned terrorism in all its forms, jointly condemned the Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025, and discussed capacity building and information exchange to counter the misuse of emerging financial and communication technologies for terrorist purposes.
What happens next following these India-Italy naval talks?
Both navies are expected to formalise a schedule of bilateral exercises and Staff Talks in the coming months. The counter-terrorism task force outcomes are also expected to inform upcoming India-EU and India-G7 security dialogues, with the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership moving into an active implementation phase.
