India, Italy draw up a new drill plan as military ties tighten

A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (MCP) 2026-27 was exchanged between India and Italy on Thursday, setting the framework for expanded military engagements between the armed forces of both countries.

Rajnath Singh hosted his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in New Delhi for wide-ranging discussions on regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia.

During the meeting, the two leaders also reviewed avenues to deepen defence industrial cooperation, with a focus on aligning India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative with Italy’s defence cooperation framework.


Sharing details of the engagement, Singh said: “Happy to have welcomed my Italian counterpart Mr Guido Crosetto and held extensive talks with him in Delhi today. We discussed a wide range of regional and global issues including the current situation in West Asia.

We also discussed the avenues to further develop mutually beneficial defence industrial cooperation under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and Italy’s defence cooperation initiative.

A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (MCP) 2026-27 was also exchanged regarding military engagements between the Armed forces of both countries.”

The exchange of the MCP 2026–27 formalises structured military-to-military cooperation, including training exchanges, joint activities and institutional collaboration, signalling a deepening of defence ties between New Delhi and Rome.