(Adnkronos) – India’s prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties cements a “shared Indo-Mediterranean vision”, while the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is a key tool for realising this aspiration, special IMEC envoy Francesco Maria Talo told Adnkonos on Wednesday.
“We have a vision; now we must put it into practice,” Talo told an Adnkronos special live broadcast that focused on Meloni and Modi’s talks in Rome.
The IMEC project to develop trade routes linking India to Europe via the Arabian Gulf is one of the most important tools for realising Italy and India’s “shared Indo-Mediterranean vision” but not the only one, Talo said.
IMEC should not just be seen as a collection of infrastructure projects, but as a tool for fostering contacts, dialogue, and mutual benefits among the participating countries, as well as offering opportunities for Italy-India cooperation in regions such as Africa, Talo said.
Turning to international affairs, Europe needs to strengthen its role, including in defence “within a Western framework”, Talo underlined
“Our government is fighting for the unity of the West,” he stated, adding that this approach must go hand in hand with expanding the circle of friends and partners.
In the case of India, Italy must accept the country’s “multi-vector foreign policy” and autonomous approach to international relations, Talo argued.
“We must not delude ourselves that India could one day become a close ally of ours, because we would risk being disappointed,” he said.
Italy’s goal is to build a mutually beneficial relationship with India based on shared challenges, for example critical minerals – a sector in which China has established a dominant position, Talo noted.
“We must address this and do so together – with India, the United States, Canada, in Africa, and in Brazil,” he said.
But to achieve this goal, more infrastructure will be needed, especially following the landmark free trade deal signed in January between the European Union and India – which could lead to a doubling of trade – Talo concluded.
