New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has described relations between India and Italy as being “linked by a great friendship,” following a brief but warm exchange with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the recently concluded G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
The two leaders were seen engaging in a friendly interaction during the summit, exchanging handshakes and smiles, a moment that quickly gained traction online. Their camaraderie continued on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where they exchanged posts reinforcing the strength of bilateral ties.
Meloni shared a photo of the meeting with the caption, “Italy and India linked by a great friendship.”
Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. India’s friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people!@GiorgiaMeloni https://t.co/LaYIIZn8Ry
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2025
Narendra Modi has retweeted the post with the caption, “Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. India’s friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people!”
Social media buzz: #Melodi
The hashtag #Melodi, an informal portmanteau of Meloni and Modi, once again trended on social media, with users highlighting the leaders’ friendly rapport.
At the COP28 summit, Meloni had previously posted a selfie with Modi, captioned: “Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.” The post went viral, reinforcing the image of a strong personal rapport between the two.
Candid moments resurfaced from their past interactions, including their pictures in a cosy setting. Social media users have creatively edited footage of the leaders’ meetings with Bollywood music and humorous overlays, further fueling the online buzz.
G7 Summit as a way forward
Beyond the Meloni-Modi moment, Prime Minister Modi used the G7 Summit platform to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with other nations. He met with various world leaders and emphasised collaboration on key global issues
Modi also expressed gratitude to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the summit invitation, noting that it marked his first visit to Canada since 2015. He described the opportunity as a meaningful way to reconnect with the Canadian people.
