Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a packet of Melody toffee on May 19, 2026, during his visit to Rome [1, 2, 3, 4]. The gift playfully connected the toffee's name with a portmanteau of "Meloni" and "Modi," a theme that had gained popularity in their previous interactions [1, 2, 3, 4].

Meloni thanked Modi in a video, calling the toffee "a very, very good toffee" and expressing her gratitude for the gift [1, 4]. The footage of the leaders with the toffee quickly went viral on Instagram, gathering about 175 million views [1, 2, 3].

Melody is a nostalgic Indian sweet, recognized by its yellow-brown wrapper twisted at one end. It usually costs about one rupee, roughly one Singapore cent, and is commonly sold in local Indian shops [1, 2, 3].

The "Melodi" theme has featured in Modi and Meloni's past appearances. Meloni used the hashtag #Melodi in a selfie with Modi at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Modi also wrote the foreword to the Indian edition of Meloni’s memoirs, published in 2025, in which he called her a "patriot" and praised her cultural and global engagement [1, 2, 3].

Modi has 107 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), while Meloni has 3.3 million. Their joint events tend to attract large public interest and visibility [1, 2, 3].

Italy is India’s fourth-largest export market in the European Union. Both leaders have discussed expanding ties in manufacturing, defense, and critical minerals [1, 2, 3].

Modi arrived in Rome on May 18 and was welcomed by Meloni. They shared dinner and took a late-evening walk to the Colosseum, engaging in informal conversations described as "car diplomacy" [4]. During the visit, Modi also viewed Italian painter Giampaolo Tomassetti's works inspired by Varanasi and Indian spiritual traditions. Modi was warmly greeted by the Indian diaspora in Rome outside his hotel [4].

Modi said, "Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship" [4].

Meloni posted on social media about their friendship, saying, "Good friends at COP28 #Melodi" and referring to the close bond between Italy and India [1].

Further talks and bilateral discussions are expected to proceed following Modi’s visit, focusing on deepening India-Italy cooperation in multiple sectors [4].