India–Slovakia Relations: PM Modi’s Historic Slovakia Visit 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Slovakia in June 2026 elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, the highest level of engagement between the two countries.

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Slovakia’s highest civilian honour, the “Order of the White Double Cross, First Class”, by President Peter Pellegrini.
• This is the  first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its 1993 independence.

Key Agreements Between India and Slovakia

• Defence Cooperation: India and Slovakia signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen cooperation in defence technologies, industrial collaboration, capacity building and defence research and development.
• Digital and Emerging Technologies: Both countries signed an MoU on Digital Technologies to expand collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, start-ups, 5G, 6G, Internet of Things and digital infrastructure.
• Labour Mobility and Social Security: An MoU on Labour Migration was signed to facilitate the mobility of skilled professionals, while both sides agreed to conclude a Social Security Agreement.
• Education and Research Cooperation: An MoU on Higher Education and Research was signed to promote academic linkages and enhance the mobility of students, researchers and faculty members.
• Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Both countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Terrorism and reiterated support for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

About India–Slovakia Relations

• India and Slovakia established diplomatic relations in 1993 following Slovakia’s independence from Czechoslovakia.
• Slovakia is a key member of the European Union (EU), the Schengen Area, and NATO.
• • It is also a core player within the Visegrád Group (V4), a political and cultural alliance of four Central European countries Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
  • Strengthening ties will allow India to diversify its diplomatic and supply-chain footprints across Central Europe. 
• Political Relations: Slovakia consistently supports India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council and maintains a constructive approach towards India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• Economic Relations: Bilateral trade has expanded steadily, crossing €1.28 billion in 2024, driven by growing cooperation in manufacturing, automobiles, engineering goods and technology sectors.
• Key Cooperation Areas: Both countries cooperate in defence, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy, railways, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and space technologies.
• India–EU Dimension: Slovakia supports stronger India–European Union engagement and views the India–EU Free Trade Agreement as a major catalyst for future economic cooperation.
• People-to-People Relations: Educational exchanges, cultural cooperation, tourism, labour mobility and a growing Indian diaspora contribute to stronger societal links between the two countries.
• Strategic Significance: Slovakia’s location in Central Europe and its membership in the European Union and NATO make it an important gateway for India’s engagement with Europe.

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Conclusion

The elevation of India–Slovakia ties to a Comprehensive Partnership marks a new phase of cooperation spanning defence, technology, trade and multilateral diplomacy.

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