India – Italy Defence Dialogue Signals New Momentum in Strategic Industrial Cooperation
India and Italy have reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding defence industrial cooperation and building resilient, future-ready supply chains during high-level meetings held in Rome on February 26 and 27. The engagements underscored a growing convergence between two major democracies seeking to navigate a rapidly evolving global security environment.
The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, who held substantive discussions with senior Italian defence leadership, signaling a deepening of bilateral strategic engagement.
High-Level Strategic Engagements
Shri Sanjeev Kumar called on Italy’s Under Secretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago, and engaged in detailed discussions with National Armaments Director Giacinto Ottaviani and Chief of Italian Defence Forces Luciano Portolano.
The meetings focused on enhancing defence production collaboration, strengthening industrial linkages, and exploring joint development initiatives in advanced military technologies.
Building Resilient Defence Supply Chains
Against the backdrop of global disruptions and shifting geopolitical alignments, both sides emphasized the importance of resilient and diversified defence supply chains. The dialogue highlighted opportunities for co-development, co-production, and technology transfer in critical domains such as aerospace systems, naval platforms, electronics, and emerging defence technologies.
For India, advancing indigenous manufacturing under its defence production initiatives remains a strategic priority. Italy, with its established defence industrial base and technological expertise, presents a complementary partner in this effort.
Expanding Industrial Partnerships
The discussions also explored mechanisms to facilitate closer engagement between Indian and Italian defence companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which play a crucial role in innovation and component manufacturing.
By encouraging joint ventures and industry-to-industry collaboration, both nations aim to create a more integrated defence ecosystem that can respond swiftly to operational demands while fostering economic growth.
A Broader Strategic Context
The Rome meetings reflect the steady elevation of India – Italy relations within a broader European strategic framework. As both countries seek to enhance strategic autonomy and reduce overdependence on single-source suppliers, cooperation in defence manufacturing has emerged as a key pillar of bilateral ties.
The engagement also signals a shared recognition that modern defence preparedness is increasingly tied to technological innovation, industrial depth, and trusted partnerships.
Advancing a Future-Ready Strategic Partnership
The February 26–27 meetings concluded with a mutual commitment to translate dialogue into tangible outcomes. Both sides agreed to intensify working-level engagements, encourage industry participation, and establish structured follow-up mechanisms to ensure steady progress.
As India and Italy chart the next phase of cooperation, their focus remains clear: fostering innovation-driven defence collaboration, strengthening industrial capacity, and building trusted, resilient supply chains capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly complex global security landscape.
