9th India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations (March 20, 2026)

The 9th India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations( FOC) were held in New Delhi on 20 March 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Shri. Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Italian delegation was led by Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere, Director General for Globalisation and Global issues at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy.

2. The Foreign Office Consultations were held in backdrop of regular and frequent high level engagement between the two sides, the most recent ones being meetings between Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of the Council of Ministers, Italian Republic H.E Ms. Georgia Meloni at G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, and meeting between External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Antonio Tajani in Delhi in December 2025.

3. The FOC provided an opportunity to review and discuss the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 particularly in sectors of trade and economy, technology, space, research & innovation, defence & security, counter-terrorism, renewable energy, education and people-to-people ties. Both sides agreed on expeditious implementation of India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism in line with their joint commitment to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. Both sides are also working for holding the first Maritime Security Dialogue to enhance collaboration for safety, security and growth across the maritime domain.

4. Both sides expressed happiness on growing India-EU strategic partnership and welcomed the conclusion of landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the signing of Security and Defence Partnership and the Comprehensive Framework on Cooperation on Mobility. They look forward for early signing and implementation of India-EU FTA. They discussed key developments in Indo-Pacific, West Asia and other global and regional issues of shared interest.

5. Both sides emphasized on further strengthening collaboration in skilling and mobility including in healthcare sector within the framework of Migration and Mobility Agreement.

6. India-Italy bilateral relations are on an upward trajectory, with regular high level interactions, ministerial dialogues and growing engagements at private sector level. Both sides looked forward to continued engagement including regular meetings of institutional mechanisms in trade and investment, defence, science and technology for timely implementation of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) across all domains to further deepen India-Italy strategic partnership.

7. Both sides agreed to hold next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Italy on mutually convenient dates.

New Delhi
March 20, 2026