Narendra Modi Makes Historic Visit to Slovakia During European Tour
Modi's Landmark Visit to Slovakia
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Slovakia, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister since the nation became independent in 1993. This trip is part of his three-nation tour across Europe. During his two-day stay in Bratislava, Modi plans to engage in discussions with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. Additionally, he will meet with prominent Slovak business figures to explore opportunities for enhancing economic collaboration and investment between India and Slovakia.
Upon his arrival, Modi expressed optimism about the visit's potential to strengthen bilateral relations and create new avenues for cooperation. He shared his thoughts on X, stating, "This visit provides an opportunity to deepen India-Slovakia relations and explore new avenues of cooperation. Looking forward to productive meetings with President Pellegrini and Prime Minister Fico." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár welcomed Modi with the traditional bread-and-salt ceremony, a gesture reflecting Slovak hospitality and goodwill.
Prior to this visit, Modi characterized the trip as historic, expressing confidence that his discussions with Slovak leaders and industry representatives would enhance bilateral cooperation. This visit follows increased engagement between the two nations, highlighted by President Droupadi Murmu's state visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and President Pellegrini's attendance at the AI Impact Summit in India in February 2026, as noted by the MEA.
India and Slovakia are anticipated to discuss expanding collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, railway production, and emerging technologies. New Delhi views this visit as a chance to bolster its ties with the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member.
Modi's European tour began in France, where he held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and participated in the Bharat Innovates event in Nice. After his Slovakia visit, he will head to Evian for the G7 Summit on June 16 and 17, where he is expected to engage with G7 leaders and partner nations on global cooperation, economic growth, and artificial intelligence, along with a series of bilateral meetings. The final stop on Modi's tour will be Paris on June 18, where he will attend VivaTech 2026, Europe's largest technology and startup event, alongside President Macron.