Relevance: GS Paper II (India and other countries/groupings; how rich-country policies affect India) | Source: The Hindu & The Indian Express

On 20 May 2026, during PM Modi’s Europe tour, India and Italy raised their friendship to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’. They set a €20 billion trade target by 2029 and signed deals on defence, critical minerals, and fighting money-laundering and terror funding.

1. What India and Italy agreed

•         A Defence Industrial Roadmap and a critical minerals deal.
•         Cooperation between Italy’s financial police (Guardia di Finanza) and India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED).
•         Working together in Africa, joining India’s aid efforts with Italy’s Mattei Plan, ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit-4.
•         PM Modi received the FAO Agricola Medal 2026; Italy supported the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

2. Why India is turning to Europe

•         The tour covered the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy. The India-EU FTA (Jan 2026) and India-EFTA pact (2024) are the base.
•         Europe offers what India needs: markets, capital, high technology (e.g., the ASML-Tata chip deal for the Dholera plant) and clean energy.
•         The world is changing — an unpredictable US and a closer Russia-China bond. India and Europe both want to reduce dependence on China.
•         Shared interest in safe sea routes like the Strait of Hormuz during the West Asia war.

UPSC Value Box

 3. The way forward

•         Use the IMEC corridor and the FTA to reach the trade target.
•         Reduce reliance on Russian arms by building weapons together.
•         Engage smaller European regions (Nordic, Mediterranean) and lock in critical-mineral and worker-mobility deals.

Conclusion: As old global rules weaken, Europe can no longer be a side-note in India’s foreign policy. The Italy upgrade shows India’s smart multi-aligned diplomacy — turning global uncertainty into opportunity.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

1. “Europe is moving to the centre of India’s strategic imagination.” Examine the reasons for, and importance of, India’s deeper ties with Europe. (15 marks, 250 words)

Answer hints:

•         Intro: Modi’s four-nation tour and the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership.
•         Body: Reasons — technology, capital, markets, reducing China-dependence, an unsure US; tools — FTA, EFTA, IMEC, minerals.
•         Value-add: Mattei Plan, ASML-Tata Dholera fab, FAO Agricola Medal, Indo-Mediterranean.
•         Conclusion: Europe as a key pillar of India’s multi-alignment.