Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his five-nation tour with a visit to Italy on May 19, meeting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome to boost bilateral ties through talks on trade, defense, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. They reviewed the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, targeting growth in clean energy and AI amid $16.77 billion in 2025 trade, while co-authoring an op-ed on an ‘Indo-Mediterranean’ vision. Fun gestures like Modi gifting Meloni Parle Melody toffees—playing on their ‘Melodi’ nickname—sparked delighted responses and memes, though opposition leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed it as ‘nautanki’ amid India’s economic challenges.
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