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Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Bratislava, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia since its independence in 1993. During the visit, India and Slovakia elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, marking a new phase in cooperation across defence, technology, trade, digital innovation, labour mobility, and multilateral affairs.

India–Slovakia Relations

India established diplomatic relations with Slovakia in 1993, following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Prior to this, India maintained close ties with Czechoslovakia, one of the earliest countries to recognize independent India.

The relationship is founded on shared democratic values, pluralism, support for a rules-based international order, and commitment to multilateralism. As a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO, Slovakia has emerged as an important partner for India's engagement with Central Europe and has consistently supported stronger India–EU cooperation, including the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Major Outcomes of the Visit

Elevation to Comprehensive Partnership

The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, providing an institutional framework for deeper cooperation based on shared trust, strategic convergence, and long-term engagement.

Defence Cooperation

A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed to strengthen defence collaboration through:

• Joint development and production of defence equipment.
• Defence industrial cooperation.
• Enhanced strategic and security partnership.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

Economic ties have expanded steadily, with bilateral trade reaching €1.28 billion in 2024, compared to €858.1 million in 2023 and €711.9 million in 2022.

India's major exports include:

• Mobile phones
• Footwear
• Garments
• Automobile components
• Tyres
• Pharmaceuticals
• Electrical equipment

Major imports from Slovakia include:

• Motor vehicles
• Machinery
• Pumps
• Transmission shafts
• Measuring instruments
• Bearings
• Wires and cables

Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in automobiles, railways, precision manufacturing, electronics, green technologies, and investment, while emphasizing early implementation of the India–EU FTA.

Technology and Innovation

Technology emerged as a key pillar of the partnership.

Major initiatives include:

• MoU on Digital Technology to promote cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Establishment of an India Chair on Artificial Intelligence at a Slovak university.
• Collaboration in space technology and civil nuclear energy, with Slovak companies invited to participate in India's expanding space sector.

Labour Mobility

Both sides signed an MoU on Labour Migration to facilitate legal mobility of skilled workers and agreed to conclude a Social Security Agreement, ensuring protection of workers' social security benefits while addressing Slovakia's growing labour shortages.

Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

India and Slovakia strongly condemned terrorism, including the Pahalgam terror attack (2025), and agreed to:

• Establish a Joint Working Group on Terrorism.
• Support adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the United Nations.
• Take action against UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee-listed terrorists.
• Reject double standards and oppose state-sponsored terrorism.

Multilateral Cooperation

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to:

• Reform of the United Nations, including expansion of the UN Security Council.
• Strengthening multilateralism and the rules-based international order.
• India's aspiration for permanent membership of the UNSC.

Significance for India

The Comprehensive Partnership elevates India's engagement with Central Europe, diversifies strategic partnerships within the European Union, and strengthens cooperation in defence manufacturing, digital technologies, AI, skilled workforce mobility, clean energy, and resilient supply chains. Slovakia's strategic location in Europe and its advanced manufacturing base complement India's Make in India, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, while also reinforcing India's broader objective of deepening ties with Europe amid evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics.