The Fifth Meeting of the Italy-India Joint Working Group on cooperation in counterterrorism and organised crime was held today at the Farnesina. The meeting was co-chaired by the Security Director of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister Plenipotentiary Alessandro Azzoni, and the Joint Secretary for Counterterrorism of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, K.D. Dewal. The event was also attended by the Ambassador of India in Rome, Vani Rao.
Italy and India engaged in an extensive exchange of information and assessments on the threat of terrorism in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and the African continent. The discussions then focused on modern challenges posed by terrorism, including the role of disinformation, terrorist financing through cryptocurrencies, and the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. During the third session, the parties addressed specific bilateral security issues, particularly highlighting training opportunities and security-related educational offerings available in both Italy and India. The meeting also reviewed opportunities to strengthen collaboration between Rome and New Delhi in multilateral forums, specifically within the United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Indian delegation’s mission to Italy will conclude on 17 January with a visit to the International Advanced Training Institute for the Prevention and the Fight against Organised Crime in Caserta.
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group will take place in New Delhi, with the date to be determined.
