India and Italy Launch Joint Initiative to Tackle Terrorism Financing Says PM Modi

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni launched a sweeping bilateral initiative aimed at combating the financing of terrorism, signaling a deepening of strategic security cooperation between the two nations. 

The two leaders formally adopted the India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism, a framework that commits both countries to stronger collaboration in tracking and disrupting terror networks’ financial flows. 

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, this agreement includes enhanced information sharing, capacity building among security agencies, and coordinated action in global multilateral forums. 

PM Modi described the initiative as “necessary and timely” a step that would bolster humanity’s fight against the support systems that sustain terrorism. 

 Meanwhile, Meloni expressed strong solidarity with India following the recent terror attack in Delhi and committed Italy to working closely with New Delhi on counter-terrorism measures. 

This cooperation is not limited to bilateral operations. The initiative emphasizes joint engagement in multilateral institutions such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) to synchronize efforts on a larger scale. 

Beyond counter-terrorism, Modi and Meloni also reviewed the broader India-Italy Strategic Action Plan (2025–29), covering areas such as trade, defence, science and technology, AI, space, and education. 

 As part of this plan, the two nations will also explore defense-industrial cooperation, including co-development and co-production of defense platforms. 

Commenting on their evolving partnership, Modi noted that the strategic ties between the two countries are “growing from strength to strength” and benefit the citizens of both nations. 

Meloni, on her part, reiterated her support for India’s upcoming AI Impact Summit in 2026, which highlights the growing technology and innovation dimension of their cooperation. 

As part of the terror-financing initiative, both countries will boost their existing mechanisms for judicial cooperation, police training, and financial investigations. This effort builds on earlier collaborations under the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, which already focused on disrupting terrorist financing and money laundering. 

The agreement marks a significant step in India-Italy relations, blending economic, technological, and security objectives. It also underscores both nations’ commitment to addressing global terror threats through coordinated policy, financial standards, and intelligence partnerships.