India, Italy agree for urgent implementation of initiative to counter terror financing

India and Italy have agreed on expeditious implementation of India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism in line with their joint commitment to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

The decision to strengthen counter-terror cooperation was taken at the 9th India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi on March 20. The Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs and the Italian delegation was led by Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere, Director General for Globalisation and Global issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Foreign Office Consultations were held in backdrop of regular and frequent high level engagement between the two sides, the most recent ones being meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Georgia Meloni at G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, and meeting between External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Delhi in December 2025.


The FOC provided an opportunity to review and discuss the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 particularly in sectors of trade and economy, technology, space, research & innovation, defence & security, counter-terrorism, renewable energy, education and people-to-people ties, according to a statement released by the MEA.

Both sides are also working for holding the first Maritime Security Dialogue to enhance collaboration for safety, security and growth across the maritime domain. They discussed key developments in Indo-Pacific, West Asia and other global and regional issues of shared interest.

Both sides emphasized on further strengthening collaboration in skilling and mobility including in healthcare sector within the framework of Migration and Mobility Agreement, according to the MEA statement.

India-Italy bilateral relations are on an upward trajectory, with regular high level interactions, ministerial dialogues and growing engagements at private sector level.