At the NDTV World Summit on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Italy’s Ambassador to India, Antonio Bartoli, declared that India was no longer just a spectator in global affairs.
He said the West welcomes New Delhi’s higher profile in peacemaking but cautions that a larger role brings greater responsibilities. This acknowledgment comes amid rising global tensions that test diplomatic limits.
Bartoli pointed out that the surge in global interconnectedness has not translated into the peace and democracy many expected, noting, "I think that with a greater role comes greater responsibilities."
He warned that the Ukraine war, coupled with Iran’s influence, fuels rising costs for ordinary consumers, stressing that isolationist thinking about distant conflicts overlooks their global economic ripple effects.
The ambassador highlighted how disruptions at the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb choke points have triggered severe food shortages, underscoring the fragility of worldwide supply chains.
On India‑Italy ties, Bartoli underscored the mutual interest in linking their seas, boosting manufacturing, and leveraging their status as second industrial powerhouses, while the prime ministers of both countries announced 2027 as the year of culture and tourism.