Rome – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended a cordial reception to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in the Italian capital on Tuesday, underscoring the growing warmth in bilateral ties between the two nations.
Meloni took to social media platform X to share a striking photograph featuring the two leaders against the backdrop of the illuminated Colosseum, the ancient Flavian Amphitheatre that stands as one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. In her post, she wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!” accompanied by the flags of Italy and India. The image quickly gained traction online, amassing over a million views, nearly 60,000 likes, and thousands of comments celebrating the friendship between the two world leaders.
This visit marks the concluding phase of Prime Minister Modi’s extensive five-nation tour, which has already taken him to Norway, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, and Sweden. During his stay in Italy, Modi is expected to hold discussions with President Sergio Mattarella, engage in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Meloni, and participate in various diplomatic activities before returning to India on Wednesday.
The leaders’ camaraderie is not new. Their bond has been evident through several public moments captured over the years. During the G7 Summit in June 2024, also hosted in Italy, Meloni shared a cheerful selfie and a video with Modi, playfully referring to the “Melodi team.” The portmanteau “Melodi,” blending elements of their names, first captured public imagination following their bilateral meeting the previous year and has since become a popular reference on social media.
In response to Meloni’s G7 post, Prime Minister Modi had replied, “Long live India-Italy friendship!” Earlier, in December 2023, on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Meloni had posted another selfie with the caption, “Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.” These repeated instances of shared photographs highlight the personal rapport the two prime ministers have cultivated alongside formal diplomatic engagements.
The latest “Melodi” snapshot from the Colosseum continues this tradition, offering a visually compelling symbol of the friendly relations between India and Italy as the two nations advance their strategic partnership.