‘Welcome to Rome, my friend’: Italian PM Meloni greets PM Modi as he arrives in Italy, shares candid moment at Colosseum

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome for the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour, where he was warmly welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Meloni shared a candid picture with PM Modi on social media platform X and wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!” She also posted a photo of the two leaders standing at the Colosseum in Italy.

How did the Indian diaspora welcome PM Modi?

Earlier in the day, PM Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora as he arrived in Rome. At his hotel, he interacted with members of the community and watched cultural performances organised in his honour.

During the interaction, the Prime Minister signed an autograph for a young admirer who presented him with a portrait. He also admired a painting of the Varanasi ghats crafted by an Italian artist, inspired by Indian heritage and culture.

What is on the agenda during the Italy visit?

As part of his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He will also take part in a range of diplomatic engagements before departing for India.

Why is this visit important for India-Italy ties?

The visit comes at a time when India-Italy relations are seeing growing momentum. Both countries are working on the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029 to deepen cooperation in key sectors.

These include trade, which reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025, and investments, with cumulative FDI standing at USD 3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025. Other focus areas include defence, security, clean energy, technology, innovation and cultural exchanges.

Before arriving in Italy, PM Modi visited Norway as the fourth stop of his tour. He had earlier travelled to Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

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