'Hi Friends, From #Melodi': PM Modi, Italy's Meloni Strike A Pose On Sidelines Of G7 Summit

A selfie and short clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia are making waves online. The picture and the five-second video, taken by Meloni on Friday, show both leaders in a cheerful mood.

The latest selfie of the duo, famously known as “Melodi,” marks their second notable photo together, following last year’s snapshot at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, which took the internet by storm. The Italian PM had captioned that photo “Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.” The moniker “Melodi” has since stuck.

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This comes as PM Modi was in southern Italy for a day upon Meloni’s invitation for the G7 Outreach summit, marking his first foreign trip since beginning his third consecutive term. The bilateral talks and the viral selfie underline the diplomatic ties between India and Italy amid global engagements at the G7.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi engaged in bilateral talks with Meloni, where she congratulated him on his electoral victory. According to the External Affairs Ministery, Modi expressed gratitude for the invitation and praised the summit’s successful conclusion.

During their bilateral meeting, Meloni congratulated PM for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. PM Modi thanked PM Meloni for the invitation to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit and conveyed his appreciation for the successful conclusion of the Summit. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped to enhance the defence-industrial collaboration.

They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year. PM Modi thanked the Italian Government for recognizing the Indian Army’s contribution to the Italian Campaign during WW-II and informed that India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy.