Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she achieved a historic political milestone, becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Italy’s postwar history.
Meloni’s government completed 1,413 consecutive days in office, surpassing the previous postwar record and marking a major moment for Italy’s often politically turbulent system.
Modi Calls Meloni His “Friend”
Modi congratulated Meloni on social media, describing her as his “friend” and praising the milestone as a reflection of the trust and confidence placed in her leadership.
He also highlighted Meloni’s contribution to strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership, signalling that New Delhi sees the relationship as an increasingly important pillar of its engagement with Europe.
The message comes as India and Italy have expanded cooperation across strategic and economic areas, with both governments seeking closer engagement on trade, technology, defence and other areas.
Italy PM Giorgia Meloni Responds to Modi
Meloni responded by thanking Modi for his wishes and said that the India-Italy relationship is “stronger than ever.” Her response underlined the increasingly warm personal and diplomatic relationship between the two leaders.
The Modi-Meloni relationship has attracted considerable attention in recent years, with both leaders repeatedly stressing the importance of closer bilateral cooperation.
Why Meloni’s Record Matters
Meloni became Italy’s first woman Prime Minister in October 2022. Her ability to keep her coalition government intact for more than four years is particularly significant given Italy’s history of frequent changes in government.
Her administration has also managed to project greater political stability than many previous Italian governments, although it continues to face challenges including weak economic growth, high public debt and disagreements over domestic reforms.
Meloni’s political endurance could become even more important as Italy moves closer to its next electoral test.
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India-Italy Ties Gain Momentum
For New Delhi, Giorgia Meloni’s record is more than a domestic Italian political milestone. India has been seeking stronger partnerships with European powers, and Italy has emerged as an increasingly important partner. The two countries have upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, while Modi and Meloni have maintained close political engagement.
The latest exchange also comes after Meloni congratulated Modi earlier this year on his own political longevity milestone, creating a notable moment of mutual recognition between the two leaders.
For now, Modi’s message sends a clear diplomatic signal: New Delhi sees Meloni as a key European partner — and India-Italy ties are entering an increasingly strategic phase.
