Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Slovakia from June 14 to 16, 2024, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister since 1993 [1].
The trip represents a strategic effort by India to diversify its engagement within Central Europe. By strengthening ties with Slovakia, India aims to secure new investment channels and expand its footprint in a region critical to European Union dynamics.
During the three-day visit [2], Modi met with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. The leaders focused on boosting bilateral trade and investment, specifically targeting cooperation in manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and defence [1, 3]. These discussions occur as India seeks to advance the India‑EU free‑trade pact, using bilateral relationships to build broader momentum for the agreement [3].
Slovak Ambassador Robert Maxian said the visit was a "historic opportunity" [4]. The Indian Ambassador also said the mission was "historic and extremely important" for the future of the two nations [5].
The visit was part of a larger six-day European tour running from June 13 to 18, 2024 [6]. Other stops on the itinerary included talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the G7 summit, and the VivaTech event [6].
Officials said the primary goal of the Bratislava leg was to deepen the India‑Slovakia partnership [3]. By focusing on high-tech sectors like AI and defence, India is positioning itself as a key strategic partner for Slovakia's industrial growth [1, 3].
“"historic opportunity"”
This visit signals India's shift toward a more granular diplomatic strategy in Europe, moving beyond traditional power centers to build ties with individual Central European states. By aligning with Slovakia on AI and defence, India is not only diversifying its supply chains but also creating leverage for the broader India‑EU free‑trade negotiations.
