WATCH: ‘Welcome to Rome, my friend’ — Meloni’s selfie with PM Modi goes viral

Rashmi Pandey — Wed, 20 May 2026 03:58:15 +0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Italy on Saturday for a high-profile diplomatic visit that quickly grabbed global social media attention after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared a fresh selfie with him, captioned: “Welcome to Rome, my friend.”

The now-viral image, posted shortly after Modi’s arrival in Rome, reignited online discussions around the popular “Melodi” trend — a social media nickname coined by users combining the names of Modi and Meloni after their previous public interactions at global summits. Within minutes, the selfie began trending across multiple social media platforms, drawing reactions from political supporters, diplomats and internet users worldwide.

Prime Minister Modi’s Italy visit comes at a crucial time as India and Italy continue expanding cooperation in areas including trade, defence, clean energy, technology, manufacturing and strategic connectivity. Officials said the visit includes bilateral meetings, strategic discussions and participation in diplomatic engagements focused on strengthening ties between the two countries.

Over the past two years, New Delhi and Rome have significantly upgraded relations through the India-Italy Strategic Partnership framework. Both countries have increased collaboration in sectors such as semiconductors, green hydrogen, maritime cooperation, space technology and Indo-Pacific security coordination.

Diplomatic ties between the two nations have witnessed renewed momentum since Meloni’s visit to India and subsequent meetings with Modi during multilateral forums including the G20 Summit and other international gatherings. Their public chemistry and informal interactions have repeatedly drawn global attention online, often generating millions of views and social media engagements.

Sources familiar with the visit indicated that discussions are also expected to focus on global geopolitical developments, supply chain resilience, energy security and cooperation between Indian and European industries. Italy remains one of India’s key strategic partners within Europe, while Indian companies continue expanding investments across Italian manufacturing and technology sectors.

The viral selfie also once again highlighted the growing role of personal diplomacy and digital optics in modern international relations. Political observers noted that such public interactions often help create stronger public visibility around bilateral partnerships beyond formal diplomatic statements.

Security arrangements were heightened across key locations in Rome ahead of Modi’s engagements, with Indian diaspora groups also gathering in parts of the city to welcome the Prime Minister during his visit.

Officials from both countries said the visit is expected to further strengthen strategic, economic and diplomatic cooperation between India and Italy amid an evolving global geopolitical environment.

IndiaItalyRelations | Business Upturn

WATCH: ‘Welcome to Rome, my friend’ — Meloni’s selfie with PM Modi goes viral