The 5th meeting of the India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counterterrorism and Organized Crime concluded in Rome, Italy, on January 17, 2025. The two-day event, held from January 16 to 17, brought together senior officials and experts from both nations to advance cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime.
The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary for Counterterrorism at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Mr. Alessandro Azzoni, Senior Deputy Director for Political Affairs and Director for Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Discussions focused on emerging domestic, regional, and international terrorist threats, with both sides sharing their experiences and expertise in addressing these challenges. A key focus of the dialogue was the increasing misuse of technology for terrorist purposes. The delegations emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation to prevent such misuse and stressed the need for effective prosecution of those responsible for terrorist activities.
The meeting also reaffirmed the strategic partnership between India and Italy and their shared commitment to strengthen collaboration in multilateral fora such as the United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Both sides explored ways to advance ongoing negotiations on bilateral agreements related to security and law enforcement.
As part of the program, the Indian delegation visited the Inter-agency Law Enforcement Academy in Caserta, Italy, to discuss capacity-building initiatives and explore partnerships with counterpart organizations in India.
Looking ahead, both countries agreed to convene the next meeting of the Joint Working Group in New Delhi on a mutually convenient date, reflecting their commitment to deepening collaboration in counterterrorism and organized crime.
This meeting underscores the strong and growing ties between India and Italy, as both nations work to address common security challenges and enhance global stability.