In a significant step towards deepening strategic ties, India and Italy have reached a consensus to enhance industrial collaboration in the defense sector. The agreement came during high-level meetings in Rome on Friday, where India’s Defense Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar engaged in crucial discussions with top Italian military and defense officials.
Kumar met with General Luciano Portolano, Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces, to deliberate on shared strategic defense priorities. Both sides emphasized the need to strengthen defense cooperation through advanced industrial partnerships, leveraging complementary strengths in their respective defense ecosystems.
Earlier on Thursday, Kumar held talks with Italy’s Under Secretary of State for Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago and National Armaments Director Admiral Giachino Ottaviani. These meetings focused on reviewing ongoing initiatives, policy frameworks, and opportunities for joint ventures between public sector undertakings, private companies, and startups from both nations.
The discussions underscored the mutual benefits of integrating supply chains and fostering business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements. A key highlight was the India-Italy Defense Industry Seminar held in Rome, organized by the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers (SIDM) and Italy’s Aerospace, Defense and Security Industries Federation (AIAD).
Participants from defense PSUs, companies, and startups explored avenues for industrial coordination and supply chain integration. Kumar’s keynote address set the stage for productive B2B and B2G meetings, paving the way for concrete collaborations.
This development builds on recent high-level interactions, including Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to New Delhi in December, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India-Italy relations as ‘steadily strengthening’ and beneficial for the global community.
As both nations aim to fortify their defense industrial bases, this agreement signals a new era of partnership that could reshape regional security dynamics and boost technological exchanges.