With pending issues on marines and defence ban resolved, India and Italy relaunch ties
The Hindu
Decision on lifting ban on Italian defence company follows Prime Minister’s visit to Rome for G-20
In a major turnaround, the Government has decided to lift its ban on the Italian defence company involved in the just days after , sources confirmed here. The lifting of the ban would lead to a “relaunch” of ties between the two countries, said the Italian envoy. Over the past few years, bilateral relations have been held up over the helicopter case as well as the case of the Italian marines accused of killing Kerala fishermen, and Mr. Modi’s first visit to Rome has seen the formal burial of both issues.
The ban imposed on Italian defence firm Leonardo SpA has been lifted with certain conditions, a defence official confirmed to The Hindu. When asked, Italian Ambassador Vincenzo De Luca said that the matter had been discussed during the Prime Minister’s visit, where he was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. According to one Government source, the ban had impacted the Navy in particular, as it is in need of an alternative supplier for “heavy weight torpedoes".
“We have still not received confirmation of the decision [to lift the ban] by the Indian Government,” Mr. Luca said in response to a question from The Hindu.