New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared fond memories of her first official visit to India, describing the warm reception she received in New Delhi as one of the most memorable experiences of her time in international politics. Her reflections appear in her newly released book, Giorgia's Vision, which is based on conversations with Italian journalist Alessandro Sallusti.
In the book, Meloni recalls arriving in New Delhi in March 2023 to attend the Raisina Dialogue, India's leading conference on geopolitics and global affairs. As her motorcade travelled through the city, she was surprised to see large welcome posters carrying her photograph displayed along the roads. According to Meloni, the posters made her feel honoured and reflected the warmth with which India had welcomed her.
She writes that the surprise continued when she was preparing to leave India. The same posters that had greeted her on arrival had been replaced with messages thanking her for the visit. Meloni says the thoughtful gesture left a lasting impression and showed the importance India places on welcoming foreign leaders.
The Italian Prime Minister also shares a light hearted moment involving Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who accompanied her during the visit. Looking at the enthusiastic reception, Tajani jokingly remarked that if Meloni were to contest an election in New Delhi, she would easily receive a million votes. The comment has become one of the most talked about stories from the book since its release.
Meloni's visit to India in 2023 marked an important step in strengthening ties between Rome and New Delhi. During the trip, she held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on expanding cooperation in trade, defence, technology, clean energy and the Indo Pacific region. The leaders also discussed ways to deepen their strategic partnership at a time when both countries are seeking closer cooperation on global economic and security issues.
Their friendly interactions during the visit quickly attracted attention on social media. Internet users coined the nickname "Melodi" by combining the names of Meloni and Modi. The phrase soon became a popular trend online, with photographs and videos of the two leaders receiving millions of views across different social media platforms.
The friendship between the two leaders has continued to draw public interest. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Italy in May this year, he presented Meloni with a packet of Melody toffees, playfully referring to the viral "Melodi" nickname. Earlier this month, the two leaders were again seen chatting warmly during the Group of Seven summit, where Meloni was heard joking that they had become "the most famous couple on Instagram." The remark quickly spread across social media and generated fresh discussion about their friendly diplomatic relationship.
Beyond her memories of India, Meloni uses her book to explain her broader approach to international diplomacy. She argues that successful diplomacy is built not only through official meetings and formal negotiations but also through trust, personal conversations and genuine human connections between world leaders.
She recalls several examples from her meetings with other heads of government to support this view. In one instance, she says an informal coffee and cigarette break with Tunisian President Kais Saied helped ease tensions after a lengthy meeting. She also remembers receiving a birthday bouquet from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a Hello Kitty doll for her daughter from former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and a translated Uzbek edition of her memoir from Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Meloni also writes about visiting a Lord of the Rings themed cafe with former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki because of their shared interest in the works of J R R Tolkien. She says such simple moments often help leaders understand one another better than formal discussions alone.
The publication of Giorgia's Vision comes at a time when relations between India and Italy continue to grow stronger. Since 2023, both countries have expanded cooperation in several areas, including defence manufacturing, renewable energy, innovation, space technology and economic investment. Regular meetings between Modi and Meloni at major international gatherings have further strengthened bilateral ties and highlighted the growing importance of the India Italy partnership on the global stage.
Meloni's recollection of her visit to India offers readers a personal look at diplomacy, showing that respect, hospitality and meaningful human interactions can often leave a deeper impact than official ceremonies. Her account also reflects the growing friendship between India and Italy, a relationship that continues to develop through both strategic cooperation and personal goodwill between their leaders.