Bratislava: India and Slovakia on Monday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, marking a major milestone during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the Central European nation.
The visit, made at the invitation of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to deepen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, trade, technology, energy, education, healthcare and security.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international order and called for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, including expansion of the UN Security Council. India welcomed Slovakia’s continued support for its bid for permanent membership in a reformed Security Council.
Defence and security cooperation emerged as a key focus area, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration in defence technologies, research, industrial cooperation and capacity building. A Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation was also signed.
The two countries strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Slovakia also joined India in condemning the 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Economic cooperation received significant attention, with both leaders welcoming progress on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement and expressing a commitment to expand bilateral trade and investment. Areas identified for cooperation include automotive manufacturing, electronics, advanced technologies, railways and clean energy.
India and Slovakia also agreed to strengthen collaboration in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital technologies, cybersecurity, quantum-safe cryptography, space technology and innovation.
The two sides signed several memoranda of understanding covering higher education, labour mobility, digital technologies, audiovisual cooperation and critical infrastructure protection.
Both leaders also stressed the importance of enhancing people-to-people ties through tourism, cultural exchanges, academic cooperation and easier mobility of skilled professionals.
Prime Minister Modi thanked the Slovak leadership for the warm hospitality and both countries agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level engagements as they embark on a new phase of bilateral relations.
