Italy, Japan leaders meet in Rome to deepen strategic partnership

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Rome on Monday as the two leaders sought to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security, economic resilience and global challenges ahead of this week's Group of Seven (G7) summit in France.

The meeting, held at Villa Doria Pamphilj, came amid growing cooperation between Rome and Tokyo following the elevation of their relationship to a "special strategic partnership" earlier this year.

According to Italian geopolitical news outlet Decode39, Takaichi's visit reflects Japan's efforts to broaden cooperation with European partners on economic security, supply chains and Indo-Pacific stability as global geopolitical competition intensifies.

The talks are expected to build on agreements reached during Meloni's visit to Tokyo in January, when the two leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in defense, critical minerals, technology and industrial policy.

[1/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[2/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[3/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[4/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[5/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[6/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[7/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[8/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[9/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[10/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[11/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[12/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[13/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[14/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[15/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[16/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[17/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[18/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[19/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[20/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) review the honor guard at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[21/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) review the honor guard at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.

[22/22] ROME, ITALY - JUNE 15: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy, on June 15, 2026.