On 9 March, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani held a phone call with India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss developments in the Persian Gulf and across the wider Middle East region.
“Europe and India are strategic partners: the partial blockage of the Strait of Hormuz represents a serious risk for the energy security and economic stability of our countries. We shared strong concern about the strategic implications and about the protection of our citizens present in the area. In this context, we intend to coordinate our actions to promote an immediate de-escalation, ensure freedom of navigation and preserve the stability of international markets — elements that are also essential for the full implementation of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement,” Minister Tajani stated.
The ongoing crisis, the Deputy Prime Minister added, confirms how crucial it is to strengthen investments in new infrastructure and secure routes, of which the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a clear example. In this regard, Italy will host a political and economic initiative dedicated to IMEC on 17 March in Trieste, with the aim of strengthening Indo-Mediterranean trade, digital and energy connections and building together an economic space that will benefit businesses and economic operators.
