India and Italy Exchange Bilateral MCP 2026–27

On 30th April 2026, India and Italy strengthened their strategic defence partnership as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto held bilateral talks in New Delhi and exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (MCP) for 2026–27.

Key Points

MCP 2026–27 Exchange: Both countries exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan, creating a structured roadmap for military engagements between their armed forces over the next year.
Strategic Foundation: The India–Italy Strategic Partnership was reaffirmed as being based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.
Focus on Defence Industry: Discussions explored opportunities to enhance defence industrial cooperation under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and Italy’s defence cooperation framework.
Regional and Global Security: The ministers also reviewed regional and international developments, including the evolving security situation in West Asia.
Maritime Security Emphasis: Expanding cooperation in maritime security emerged as an important pillar of bilateral defence engagement.
Military Exchanges: The agreement is expected to deepen structured military exchanges, joint interactions, and capacity-building initiatives.