Politics

Govt Defends India-Italy Ties Amid Meloni Remark Row

Published: 14 August 2026 · 1 min read

What Happened

The Ministry of External Affairs responded to remarks made by Congress leaders involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stating that India and Italy share deep and strong bilateral ties and that public comments should be made with mutual respect and understanding. The response came amid a political row triggered by criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy and "hug diplomacy."

Key Takeaways

The government sought to keep the focus on the broader India-Italy relationship, emphasizing that diplomatic ties have strengthened in recent years and should be treated with respect irrespective of domestic political debates.

Sources

TOI