Italy dominates connectivity and commerce across the Mediterranean from both east to west and north to south. Today it is also a critical route for delivering much-needed liquified natural gas from America to Europe. The peninsula is the gateway through the Mediterranean to Africa and Asia.

Italy occupies the central position in the Mediterranean and boasts the largest contiguous coastline of any nation along the sea. It is now the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Under Modi’s muscular global engagement (and buoyed by the world’s largest and quite young population ), India is fast reclaiming its historical status as the dominant economy of South and Southeast Asia. India is at the apex of the Indian Ocean, sitting at the continental crossroads of east-to-west digital and maritime infrastructure. India and Italy enjoy enviable geographical advantages. But this duo could deliver a transformative geostrategic alignment. The announcement received little more attention than the usual, highly orchestrated state visits that produce little of substance. She and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a strategic partnership between their nations, pledging heightened cooperation across sectors including defense, economy, trade, investment, and connectivity. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made Delhi her first stop in her inaugural trip to the Indo-Pacific region.

These nations are key links in a chain that spans from the Indo-Pacific, across the Middle East and Europe, to the U.S. Two countries, Italy and India, are emerging as valuable partners in these efforts. We ought to work together, not just to push back on China’s malicious and destabilizing behavior, but to make ourselves stronger. China creates problems for allies in the East and the West.

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