Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Colosseum in Rome on 20 May alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, capping an evening that began with a dinner hosted by the Italian leader and setting the stage for formal bilateral talks on Wednesday. The visit forms the final leg of Modi's five-nation tour.

A Warm Welcome at the Eternal City

Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday night (local time), where he was received at the airport by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Meloni extended a personal greeting on X, posting: 'Welcome to Rome, my friend!' — a signal of the close rapport the two leaders have cultivated in recent years.

Following the dinner, both leaders made their way to the Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, completed in 80 AD under the Flavian dynasty and once capable of seating up to 80,000 spectators. Modi shared photographs from the evening on X, noting that the two leaders 'exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects.'

In his post, Modi said: 'Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship.'

Bilateral Talks and a Joint Declaration

The formal agenda on Wednesday includes bilateral talks at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, where both leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to deepen the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Modi is also scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

The two countries are actively implementing the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029, a roadmap covering trade, investment, defence, clean energy, innovation, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Trade and Investment Ties

Bilateral trade between India and Italy reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Cumulative foreign direct investment from Italy stood at USD 3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025.

The MEA noted that Modi's Rome visit would further strengthen India's engagement with Europe, particularly following the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Modi had previously visited Italy in June 2024 to attend the G7 Summit.

Strategic Significance

This visit comes at a moment of growing momentum in India-Europe ties, with the EU-India FTA providing fresh commercial impetus. Italy, as a G7 member and a key European manufacturing hub, holds strategic weight in India's outreach to the continent. The joint declaration expected from Wednesday's talks is likely to add institutional depth to a partnership that has expanded well beyond trade into defence and clean energy cooperation.

The outcome of the Modi-Meloni summit, including the specifics of the joint declaration, will be closely watched by Indian industry bodies and European policymakers alike.