Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bratislava on Monday for a landmark visit to Slovakia, becoming the first Indian prime minister to travel to the Central European nation since its independence in 1993. The visit marks an important milestone in bilateral relations and is expected to strengthen cooperation across trade, technology, investment, and innovation.
During his two-day stay, Prime Minister Modi will hold high-level discussions with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. The talks are expected to focus on expanding economic engagement, boosting industrial partnerships, and exploring collaboration in emerging technologies. Modi will also interact with leading Slovak business representatives to identify new investment opportunities and deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister expressed optimism about the visit, describing it as an opportunity to deepen India-Slovakia relations and open new avenues for cooperation. He was welcomed by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár and received the traditional Slovak bread-and-salt welcome, symbolizing friendship, hospitality, and goodwill.
The visit follows a series of high-level exchanges that have strengthened bilateral ties in recent years, including President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Slovakia in 2025 and President Pellegrini’s participation in the AI Impact Summit in India earlier this year.
India and Slovakia are expected to discuss collaboration in sectors such as automobile manufacturing, railway production, advanced technologies, trade, and investment. New Delhi also views the visit as an important step in enhancing engagement with the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member.
Modi arrived in Slovakia after concluding engagements in France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and participated in the inauguration of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice. Following the Slovakia visit, he will attend the G7 Summit in Évian, France, where global leaders are expected to discuss economic growth, international cooperation, artificial intelligence, and other pressing global challenges.
The visit underscores India’s growing diplomatic outreach in Europe and its commitment to building stronger strategic and economic partnerships across the region.
