New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday urged India to play a central role in facilitating a negotiating process to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
India, with the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 industrialised and developing countries, could represent the vulnerabilities and needs of less-developed nations in such a process, Meloni said in a statement following talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She condemned the Russian attack of Ukraine and underscored its adverse impact on developing countries in terms of food and energy security.
“India may play a central role in facilitating a negotiating process for cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine, Meloni said.
Modi reiterated his cautious stand by reaffirming that peace can be achieved only through diplomacy and dialogue, saying: “India is ready to support a peace initiative in that direction.”
Meloni is on her first visit to India after becoming Italy’s prime minister in October last year.
She said trade between the two countries had doubled in two years to more than $53 billion. Both sides called for expanding cooperation in defence, green energy, digital transition, cyber security and space.
Primary Indian exports to Italy include ready-made garments, leather, iron ore, motor vehicles, textiles, chemicals, gems and jewellery. India mainly imports from Italy machinery, machine tools, metallurgical products and engineering items. Around 140 large Italian companies are active in India.
Meloni conveyed to Modi her government’s desire to reboot defence ties with India. Modi said there were ample opportunities in defence manufacturing and co-production.
He said the two countries will start joint military exercises and training courses for military personnel.
Their military ties were damaged in 2014 after India cancelled a $670 million contract for 12 helicopters after Italian defence giant Finmeccanica was accused of bribing Indian contacts to secure the deal.
India had received three helicopters and stopped the delivery of the remaining nine AW1010 helicopters.
India’s decision to prosecute two Italian marines in the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen in 2012 sparked a bitter row between the two nations. India’s Supreme Court in 2021 closed criminal proceedings against the Italian marines after Italy paid $1.3 million in damages, ending the long-simmering case.
