Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bratislava for a historic State visit to Slovakia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence in 1993.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed in Bratislava during his first visit to Slovakia by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence in 1993. | X/@MEAIndia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Bratislava has placed India-Slovakia ties in rare diplomatic focus, with New Delhi looking to widen cooperation with the Central European nation in trade, manufacturing, defence and technology.
The visit is historic for both sides. It is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country became independent in 1993. PM Modi is in Slovakia on a two-day State visit at the invitation of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
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“Reached Bratislava. 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,” Modi posted on X after landing in the Slovak capital.
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Reached Bratislava.
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.@PellegriniP_@RobertFicoSVK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2026
During the visit, PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Fico and meet President Peter Pellegrini.
The discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, innovation, automobile manufacturing, railway development and other strategic sectors.
A ceremonial welcome will be accorded to PM Modi on Monday morning.
The visit follows President Droupadi Murmu’s State visit to Slovakia in April 2025. Slovak President Pellegrini also visited India in February 2026 for the AI Impact Summit.
PM @narendramodi has arrived in Slovakia. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister since Slovakia’s independence, marking a historic milestone in India-Slovakia relations.
Upon arrival at the hotel, PM was received by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of… pic.twitter.com/nmmu3DEU0K
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 14, 2026
PM Modi was received by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar at the Grand Hotel River Park in Bratislava.
He was welcomed with the traditional Slovak gesture of bread and salt. The custom symbolises hospitality, respect and goodwill. In Slovak culture, bread represents prosperity and sustenance, while salt stands for friendship, value and protection.
The Lucnica Ensemble performed Vande Mataram in honour of the Prime Minister. The group had earlier performed the Indian national anthem during President Murmu’s visit to Slovakia in 2025.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome with a rendition of “Vande Mataram” by the Lucnica Ensemble at a hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia.
(Source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/5fHWOavk8C
— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2026
A member of the ensemble said it was a memorable experience to perform before the Indian Prime Minister.
“It was a wonderful experience. He was very polite and grateful to us. It was especially memorable because I had never performed before a Prime Minister before,” the performer said.
PM Modi also watched a spiritual performance by Mahadeva Kirtan Projekt, a Slovak musical group inspired by Indian devotional traditions.
Its founder, drummer and percussionist Marek Zilinec, said it was an honour to perform for Modi.
“When I first visited India and listened to the spiritual music and mantras there, I discovered the miracle of mantra, which gave me inspiration,” he said.
A traditional Slovak dance was also performed by Kopaniciarik, a children’s folk ensemble from the Myjava region.
Members of the Indian community gathered in large numbers in Bratislava to greet Modi. Chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Modi, Modi” were heard at the venue.
An Indian diaspora member, Rajendra Prasad, said the meeting was emotional.
“Eyes filled with emotion, heart filled with pride, and I could finally touch PM Modi with my hands, and I felt really honoured to see him in person,” he said.
Another community member, Nitin Patel, said he had not imagined he would get to meet the Prime Minister so closely.
“We met him, and I had never imagined in my life that I would meet the Prime Minister of India so closely and shake hands with him,” he said.
The Indian community in Slovakia is estimated at around 11,000. Around 500 Indian students are enrolled in universities in Bratislava, Kosice and Nitra, studying subjects including medicine, engineering and business.
The visit comes as bilateral trade has expanded sharply. India-Slovakia trade crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2024, reaching $1.3 billion. It rose further to $1.8 billion in 2025.
Indian exports stood at $1.52 billion, while imports from Slovakia were valued at $284 million.
Slovakia has welcomed the finalised India-EU Free Trade Agreement. President Pellegrini has described the FTA as a strong signal of strategic unity and a chance to boost economies and diversify supply chains.
For India, Slovakia’s position inside the EU single market gives it added importance as a manufacturing and investment gateway.
Defence is also expected to figure in the talks. India and Slovakia have had a defence MoU since 1995. More recently, Indian companies have signed agreements with Slovak defence firms for joint manufacturing in artillery and armoured systems.
Slovak firearm manufacturer Grand Power is also in the process of setting up a subsidiary near Coimbatore.
Digital technologies are another area under discussion. Negotiations are underway between India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and its Slovak counterpart.
A separate agreement on cybersecurity and post-quantum technologies is being discussed between C-DOT and Slovakia’s Critical Infrastructure Association.
The two countries have also had space cooperation. Slovakia’s first satellite was launched aboard an Indian PSLV rocket from Sriharikota in June 2017.
Slovakia helped India during Operation Ganga in 2022, when Indian nationals were being evacuated from Ukraine after the Russian invasion. It facilitated the evacuation of 1,113 Indian nationals and two foreign nationals.
Slovakia also condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. President Pellegrini expressed solidarity with the Indian people.
The country has also backed India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
PM Modi’s visit to Slovakia is the second leg of his foreign tour. He arrived in Bratislava after completing engagements in Nice, France.
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