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Indo-Mediterranean. Italy and India, a special relationship. The workshop by Med-Or and CSDR
Med-Or recently hosted a workshop on Italy-India relations in collaboration with the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR) of New Delhi, focusing on the potential areas for cooperation between the two countries.
In recent years, Italy and India have significantly strengthened their bilateral relations, showing mutual interest in fostering collaborative efforts across political, economic, cultural, and industrial sectors. Among various promising initiatives is the IMEC (India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor), which aims to establish a new trade and logistics corridor linking the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific regions via the Middle East. This corridor could become a major development project, not solely for economic purposes, with Italy potentially emerging as a key partner for India. This partnership would underscore also the Mediterranean’s strategic role as a global crossroads, connecting distinct regions of the world.
On Wednesday, November 6, a workshop titled “Indo-Mediterranean: Italy and India, a Special Relationship” took place in Rome, organized by the Med-Or Foundation and the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR), following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two entities in September 2023.
This event served as a critical platform for discussing prominent issues in the Indo-Mediterranean theatre, with a particular focus on maritime security and the Italian and Indian naval cooperation, the IMEC corridor project, potential defense and security partnerships, and the prospect of expanding collaboration in other strategic sectors, including emerging technologies, scientific research, and space exploration. These are all central themes in the revitalized partnership between Rome and New Delhi.
The event saw participation from CSDR founder and director Jacob Happymon, as well as the ambassadors of both nations, Vani Rao and Antonio Bartoli, representing New Delhi and Rome respectively.
Experts and researchers from both organizations joined a broad spectrum of representatives from the armed forces, diplomacy, academia, and industry. The discussions adhered to Chatham House rules, encouraging open contributions from professionals who shared diverse perspectives informed by their specialized expertise and practical experience.
The Council for Strategic and Defense Research, a New Delhi-based think tank, conducts in-depth analyses and provides policy and business advisory services, fostering dialogue platforms for various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, research funds, and affiliated institutions. CSDR’s expertise covers foreign policy, geopolitical risk, connectivity, geoeconomics, defense, aerospace, military strategy, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, climate change, energy security, and technology policy.
Within the broader context of renewed Italy-India dialogue and collaboration, the Med-Or workshop exemplifies a productive exchange with CSDR, aiming to encourage joint studies and projects in culture, scientific research, and education. This inaugural event may pave the way for future joint activities over the coming years, supporting the evolution of the strategic partnership between Italy and India and exploring the expansive opportunities arising from a new Indo-Mediterranean geopolitical and geoeconomic axis.
