The leaders of G7 nations were in a meet in Evian-les-Bains, France, where they talked about many international topics and renewed their position on Ukraine, apart from congratulating the US and Iran for successfully having talks. Amidst all these diplomatic activities, the brief meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has gone viral online.
A video from the summit shows Modi and Meloni greeting each other and shaking hands moments before lining up for a group photograph alongside other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. Although the audio remains faint, the Indian Prime Minister appeared to make a light-hearted reference to their internet fame. The Italian Prime Minister quickly smiled and replied, "Yes, we are the most famous couple on Instagram."
The exchange follows an encounter last month during Modi’s trip to Rome, where he gifted Meloni a packet of India's popular Parle's Melody toffees— a direct nod to the online moniker created by blending their surnames. Meloni had shared a video of the encounter on her social media platforms, holding up the confectionery alongside Modi as they laughed over the internet trend, adding the caption, "Thank you for the gift."
The 'Melodi' trend began as an online joke following their first bilateral meeting in 2023. The name has now come to mean a whole lot more than that, representing instead the easy camaraderie between the two leaders during their meetings at multilateral summits, which have been viewed by millions on video. The Prime Minister herself has taken the use of the name to heart, posting a selfie of herself with Prime Minister Modi, writing "Hi Friends, from #Melodi" in 2024, and later a video of herself, saying "Hello, from the Melodi team" at the 2025 G7 summit.
Beyond the hype on social media platforms, the relationship between the two statesmen is indicative of a changing equation in the world of foreign policy. Italy has established itself as an important ally of India in Europe in recent years. Both nations have worked together towards developing the India-Middle East-European Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The increased geopolitical relations between the two countries have been reflected in their economic cooperation as well, with India-Italy bilateral trade reaching above $16.77 billion. The leaders of both nations took this relationship one step further last month, holding discussions at an informal dinner in Rome while visiting the famous colosseum.
Also read: PM Modi holds talks with global leaders on G7 summit sidelines
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