India, Italy Hold Inaugural Maritime Security Dialogue in Rome, Five Months After Modi-Meloni Agreed to Launch It

India and Italy convened their first-ever Maritime Security Dialogue in Rome on October 23, covering maritime situational awareness, action against illicit maritime activities and protection of critical maritime infrastructure, the Indian Embassy in Italy said. The MEA-led Indian delegation also engaged Italy's Naval Academy, Hydrographical Institute, national underwater hub and Coast Guard, taking forward the dialogue the two prime ministers agreed to launch in May.

Awaaz Punjab Investigations Desk24 October 20262 min readRead in all 3 languages

India and Italy held their inaugural Maritime Security Dialogue in Rome on Friday, October 23, discussing cooperation in maritime situational awareness, countering illicit maritime activities and safeguarding critical maritime infrastructure, the Indian Embassy in Italy said on Saturday, October 24.

Source: IANS

The Embassy described the dialogue as “a new chapter” in the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership. “The inaugural India-Italy Maritime Security Dialogue in Rome on 23 October enabled a productive exchange of assessments about maritime security environment and cooperation in maritime domain. Both sides discussed avenues for cooperation in maritime situational awareness, countering illicit maritime activities and safeguarding critical maritime infrastructure,” the Embassy posted on X.

Source: IANS

The Indian delegation was led by Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) Subhashini Narayanan. The delegation also held interactions at the Academia Navale, the Italian Hydrographical Institute, the Polo Nazionale della Subacquea and the Italian Coast Guard, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

Oct 23Date of the inaugural India-Italy Maritime Security Dialogue in Rome

May 2026When PM Modi and PM Meloni agreed to launch the maritime security dialogue

4Italian institutions the Indian delegation engaged: the Naval Academy, Hydrographical Institute, national underwater hub and Coast Guard

The dialogue follows the May meeting in Rome between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at which the two leaders agreed to launch a dialogue on maritime security to strengthen cooperation, coordination and the exchange of information and best practices in the maritime domain, according to the joint statement issued after that meeting.

Source: Italy-India Joint Statement, May 2026 (Italian MFA)

At the May meeting, the two leaders also welcomed a Joint Declaration of Intent and a Defence Industrial Roadmap to promote co-production and co-development, including helicopters, naval platforms, marine armament and electronic warfare, and agreed to examine an annual high-level military structured dialogue alongside joint exercises and inter-force courses, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

Sources: IANS, October 24, 2026; Nation Press, October 24, 2026; IANS via Asia Post, October 24, 2026; and the Italy-India Joint Statement of May 2026 published by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: IANS