Defence ministry team to visit Italy to improve strained ties

In an attempt to smoothen the strained relationship between India and Italy, a delegation from the ministry of defence is visiting Rome next week. 

Ties between the two countries suffered a huge setback in 2012 after India arrested two Italian marines for killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast. This was followed by the AgustaWestland bribery scandal, which led to blacklisting of Italian firm for doing business in India.

So, after a gap of eight years, defence secretary Sanjay Mitra-headed delegation is leaving for Italy next week to discuss areas of military cooperation between the two sides. Mitra will attend the 9th India-Italy defence talks in Rome on May 14, followed by meeting with Italian defence minister and other key defence officials of the European country on next day. This meeting was scheduled to happen in 2012, but was deferred due to unforeseen developments, which affected ties between the two nations.

In 2010, India had hosted such defence talks, when the then defence secretary Pradeep Kumar led the Indian side.

After Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's bilateral talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi New Delhi in October last, relations are gradually coming back on track, at least on defence cooperation.

On February 15, 2012, two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Valentine Jelastine, 45, were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the two security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha. India arrested two Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone for killing. 

However, both India and Italy have disagreement over jurisdiction of the case along with some facts pertaining to the incident. India insisted that shooting happened in Indian waters, while Italy claims that it happened in international waters.

While India has insisted it has jurisdiction, Italy argued that the case should be heard in an Italian court. Moreover, Italian government also complained that two marines have yet to be formally charged with any crime, afters years of trial. Now, a UN tribunal will decide whether India or Italy has the jurisdiction.

Soon after the shooting incident, VVIP chopper deal scam came out, in which the Italian firm was found to pay bribe to Indian officials for getting the deal in its favour. The then defence minister A.K. Antony put a ban on any business dealing with Italian firm while handing over the case to CBI.