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“मित्रभावेन जगत्संरक्षणं, समुद्ररक्षा च विकासः।”
(Mittrabhāvena Jagatsaṁrakṣaṇaṁ, Samudrarakṣā Ca Vikāsaḥ)
“With friendship, safeguarding the world, securing the seas and fostering growth.
The Indo-Mediterranean region, encompassing the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is a critical nexus for trade, energy resources, and geopolitical stability. For both India and Italy, the region is of strategic importance, not only for economic and trade purposes but also due to security and political interests. As the global order undergoes significant shifts, India and Italy expand their collaboration to address shared challenges and leverage common opportunities. This article explores the dynamics at play in the Indo-Mediterranean region, focusing on the growing partnership between India and Italy in areas such as defence, trade, technology, and diplomatic cooperation. The Indo-Mediterranean region hosts a vital artery for international trade, linking the economies of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. It encompasses key maritime chokepoints such as the Gibraltar Strait, Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab-el-Mandeb, all of which are crucial for the movement of goods, oil, and other resources. Italy, as the world’s sixth-largest exporter, relies heavily on secure trade routes through this region. Similarly, India, with its growing economy and strategic location, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the security and stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The area is also significant for digital connectivity, with upcoming projects like the Blue-Raman submarine data cables to connect Genoa in Italy with Mumbai, India. This digital infrastructure will enhance communication and economic collaboration between Europe and Asia, thereby increasing the Indo-Mediterranean region’s role in global connectivity.
Italy’s Growing Commitment to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
Italy has become more aware of the importance of the Indian Ocean Region for its national security and economic interests. In recent years, Italy has ramped up its presence in the IOR through various security initiatives, including joining the Group of Friends of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and contributing to the EU’s Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Atalanta. Italy’s involvement in the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) highlights its commitment to safeguarding maritime security in the region for ensuring the free flow of trade and energy resources. The 2024 launch of Italy’s Mattei Plan, which aims to foster cooperation with African countries through public investments, further underscores Italy’s strategic focus on the Indo-Mediterranean region. The plan includes €5.5 billion in investments targeting key African nations such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique, all of which are geographically close to the Indian Ocean. By promoting economic development and stability in Africa, Italy seeks to create a more secure and prosperous environment for its interests in the Indo-Mediterranean region.
India and Italy have made significant strides towards expanding defence cooperation, particularly in maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, and military training. The comprehensive defence agreement signed in October 2023 lays the foundation for further collaboration between the two nations in these critical areas. Italy’s participation in EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, a European Union naval operation aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in key maritime zones like the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, has strengthened its security partnership with India. Italy’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean has grown steadily, with visits from Italian ships such as the ITS Francesco Morosini and the ITS Cavour, an aircraft carrier, to Indian ports. These visits, together with joint naval exercises like PASSEX, demonstrate the rising synergy between the two countries for ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Mediterranean region.
Joint ventures in defence production are another key area of collaboration. Italian defence companies Leonardo and Fincantieri have established partnerships with Indian companies, such as Fincantieri’s collaboration with Cochin Shipyard and Elettronica’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited. These ventures align with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which seeks to promote domestic defence production while leveraging foreign expertise. India and Italy share a strategic interest in Africa, particularly in promoting sustainable development, economic growth, and political stability. Italy’s Mattei Plan, as mentioned earlier, is a key component of its strategy to strengthen ties with African nations and India has long been a proponent of Africa’s inclusion in international forums such as the G20, and is intensifying its economic and political engagement with African countries.
Working together, India and Italy can amplify their efforts to support Africa’s development. This includes fostering joint ventures in sectors like renewable energy, infrastructure, and defence. For instance, Italy’s expertise in renewable energy technologies, combined with India’s growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, presents opportunities for collaboration that can benefit both countries as well as Africa.
Support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a transformative project that has the potential to reshape trade and connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Italy has expressed strong support for the IMEC, recognizing its potential to foster regional stability and prosperity, particularly in regions like Gaza and West Asia, which have experienced prolonged conflict and instability. The IMEC aims to improve rail connectivity, port logistics, and customs systems, all of which are essential for enhancing trade between India, Italy, and other countries along the corridor. For Italy, which relies heavily on maritime trade through the Mediterranean, IMEC offers a strategic opportunity to diversify its trade routes and expand its business with India and other Asian economies.
In addition to their growing naval cooperation, India and Italy are also expanding their collaboration in other areas of defence and security. Cybersecurity is an increasingly important domain for both countries, as they face common threats from cyberattacks and other forms of digital espionage. By sharing information and best practices, India and Italy can bolster their cybersecurity capabilities and better protect their critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
Military training is another area of potential cooperation. Italy has a long tradition of military excellence, particularly in naval operations, and its expertise can be used to improve India’s capabilities in this area. Joint training exercises and exchanges of military personnel can help both countries improve their operational readiness and enhance their ability to respond to security challenges in the Indo-Mediterranean region.
Cultural Diplomacy and People-to-People Ties
Cultural diplomacy plays a crucial role for developing relations between India and Italy. Italy’s exceptional cultural heritage, particularly in the areas of fine arts, music, heritage restoration, fashion, and cuisine, has long been admired in India. Initiatives such as the proposed ‘Italy village’ in Mumbai, which will feature cultural, fashion, and culinary events, are designed to showcase Italy’s vibrant culture and deepen cultural bonds between the two nations. The Indian diaspora in Italy is another important aspect of the bilateral relationship. The Indian community is the second-largest diaspora in the European Union, highlighting the strong socio-cultural links between the two countries. People-to-people ties are further strengthened by educational exchanges, tourism, and business collaborations, all of which contribute to a better mutual understanding and appreciation of the respective cultures.
Strategic Concerns in the Indo-Mediterranean Region
While India and Italy share a common interest in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Mediterranean region, they also face significant challenges. One of the most pressing concerns is ensuring freedom of navigation in the area, frequently threatened by piracy, illicit maritime activities, and geopolitical tensions. Both India and Italy have a vested interest in protecting key maritime routes, such as the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, vital for their trade and energy supplies.
Ongoing conflicts in West Asia, around Israel and Palestine, pose additional risks to regional security. These conflicts threaten not only the stability of trade routes but also global stability. Italy and India can collaborate on diplomatic efforts to mediate and resolve these conflicts, leveraging their influence in international forums such as the United Nations and the European Union. Climate change is another major challenge for the Indo-Mediterranean region. The risk of sea level rises, the increased frequency of natural disasters, and other climate-related disruptions threaten coastal economies, infrastructure, and local populations. India and Italy are committed to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.
India and Italy have a shared vision of promoting a rules-based international order and supporting multilateralism. Both countries are active participants in the United Nations, G20, and EU-India summits, where they advocate for diplomatic solutions to conflicts and work together to address global challenges such as climate change, terrorism, and economic inequality. By expanding their participation in multilateral initiatives, India and Italy can enhance their influence on the global stage and contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Mediterranean region. India plays a leading role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and other regional organisations established to maintain security and promote development in the wider area.
As the global order continues to evolve, the partnership between India and Italy in the Indo-Mediterranean region is poised to become even more significant. By fostering joint ventures, co-production, and technology transfer in sectors like defence, renewable energy, and infrastructure, India and Italy can boost their economies while contributing to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Mediterranean region. They should continue to expand their naval cooperation through joint exercises. India and Italy have already laid a strong foundation for naval cooperation, but there is potential for further expansion in this strategic domain to facilitate interoperability between the naval forces. These exercises help both nations improve their operational coordination and readiness to conduct anti-piracy operations and maritime search and rescue missions. Going forward, India and Italy should look to expand the scope and frequency of these exercises, incorporating more complex scenarios and multilateral engagements with other partners. By participating together in regional security initiatives, both countries can contribute to maintaining the security of vital sea lanes and maritime points.
Enhancing Intelligence-Sharing and Maritime Domain Awareness
An area where India and Italy can strengthen their partnership is maritime domain awareness (MDA), which involves the continuous monitoring of maritime activities to ensure the safety and security of ships, ports, and offshore installations. India can give Italy access to intelligence-sharing platforms like the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), located in Gurugram. This centre provides a mechanism for gaining critical information about maritime threats such as piracy, human trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism. By collaborating more closely in this domain, both countries can improve their situational awareness and ability to respond quickly to threats in the Indo-Mediterranean region.
Further collaboration on MDA could also involve the development and exchange of advanced surveillance technologies, such as satellite-based systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and maritime drones. Italy, with its expertise in defence and aerospace technologies, can be a valuable partner for India in enhancing its MDA capabilities, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
Joint Diplomatic Initiatives for Regional Stability
The Indo-Mediterranean region faces numerous geopolitical challenges, particularly in West Asia, where ongoing conflicts pose significant risks to security and stability. By leveraging their influence in international forums both countries can advocate for peaceful solutions to the region’s conflicts and promote diplomatic dialogue between conflicting parties. Italy’s historical ties with the Mediterranean and its position as a key member of the European Union give it considerable diplomatic weight in addressing those challenges, while India’s growing influence on the global stage, particularly in the Middle East and West Asia, adds further credibility to their joint efforts. Collaborative diplomatic actions can also focus on mitigating the humanitarian impacts of ongoing conflicts, particularly by providing aid and development assistance to affected areas, thus contributing to long-term peacebuilding efforts.
The two nations can also work together to advocate for stronger global action on climate change in international forums like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the G20.
In the years ahead, both nations should continue to expand their naval and security cooperation. They should also leverage their respective economic and technological strengths to foster joint ventures in the critical sectors of renewable energy generation, defence production, and infrastructure development. By addressing shared challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and threats to digital communication infrastructure, India and Italy together can increase their respective power to shape the future of Indo-Mediterranean region.
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