Welcome to Rome, my friend: A Melodi selfie as PM arrives in Italy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on the final leg of his five-nation tour and received a warm welcome from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

In Short

• PM Modi arrives in Italy on final leg of five-nation tour
• Discussions to focus on India-Italy cooperation and IMEC
• India-Italy ties to be elevated to special strategic partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Rome on Wednesday as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni greeted him with the words, "Welcome to Rome, my friend", and shared a candid moment with the Indian leader at the iconic Colosseum.

PM Modi arrived in Italy on the final leg of his five-nation tour and was received at the airport by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani. During the visit, he is expected to hold detailed discussions with Meloni and meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella to explore ways to strengthen India-Italy cooperation.

The picture of the Prime Minister with Meloni at the iconic Colosseum, illuminated against the night sky in the heart of Rome, has drawn widespread attention online, already garnering nearly 1.5 million views along with thousands of likes and comments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interactions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni often draw widespread attention online, with social media users frequently using the term "Melodi", a blend of their names, to highlight their rapport. Meloni herself has used the phrase in her earlier social media posts.

In a post on X, Modi said, "Landed in Rome, Italy. I will be meeting President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and holding discussions with them." He added, "This visit will focus on how to boost India-Italy cooperation, especially focusing on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 will also be reviewed."

The Prime Minister would also visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and reaffirm India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security.

According to an Italian government official, India and Italy are expected to reinforce diplomatic and trade ties during Modi’s visit by elevating their relationship to a special strategic partnership. Like several European countries, Italy has increasingly viewed India as an important partner amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.

The visit also comes months after the European Union concluded a long-delayed trade deal with India, seen as part of efforts to reduce dependence on the United States and diversify strategic partnerships.

PM Modi’s trip marks his first bilateral visit to Italy, following his participation in the G7 Summit in 2024 and the G20 Summit held in the country three years ago.

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