After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's selfie with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where he offered her 'Melody toffees,' garnered millions of views last month, a new light-hearted moment between the two leaders has become an instant hit on social media. During the G7 summit in France, Meloni's joke, captured on a hot mic, that 'we're the most famous couple on Instagram' went viral.
The banter unfolded as G7 leaders assembled for a customary group photo in Evian. When PM Modi greeted Meloni, she warmly said, 'Nice to see you again.' As Modi appeared to reference the virality of the 'Melody toffees,' Meloni quipped, 'Yeah, we're the most famous couple on Instagram.'
The camaraderie between the two leaders dates back to 2022, shortly after Meloni took office in Italy on October 22 that year. They discussed bilateral ties, and PM Modi gifted her a traditional Indian Patan Patola scarf. Their interactions gained widespread internet attention during the 2023 G20 Summit and COP28. The hashtag #Melodi first started trending on December 1, 2023, when Meloni published her selfie with PM Modi on her official Instagram and X accounts with the caption: 'Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.' PM Modi reshared the post, adding that 'meeting friends is always a delight.'
After being gifted Melody toffees by Modi in May this year, Meloni later posted a viral video thanking him, saying, 'PM Modi brought us a gift, a very, very good toffee.' The video went viral, receiving 100 million views on Instagram within just six hours of being posted.
Beyond the banter, the 'Melodi' effect has had a positive impact on India-Italy relations. The two countries have elevated their ties to a 'Special Strategic Partnership.' Trade between the two sides has already reached Euro 14.25 billion, with a newly set joint target to exceed Euro 20 billion by 2029.
The two leaders have also revitalized defense ties, which had earlier lost momentum due to legacy issues such as the 2012 Italian Marines incident and the AgustaWestland corruption scandal. They have established a foundation for extensive military and industrial collaboration. During Modi's Rome visit in May, the two sides framed a defense industrial roadmap for co-development and co-production of military hardware and next-generation defense technologies. The two countries are also deepening cooperation in maritime security, given their shared stakes in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean.
