India, Slovakia elevate ties to Comprehensive Partnership; Bratislava backs New Delhi’s UNSC bid
The two sides agree to deepen cooperation across defence, cybersecurity, energy, education, mobility and connectivity
India and Slovakia on Monday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, with Bratislava reiterating its support for New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council and the two countries agreeing to establish a joint working group on counter-terrorism.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Slovakia — the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence in 1993 — at the invitation of his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico.
In a joint statement issued after talks in Bratislava, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation across defence, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, energy, education, mobility and connectivity, marking a significant expansion of ties between the two countries.
Slovakia reaffirmed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council and maintained its constructive approach towards India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Both leaders underlined the need for urgent reforms of multilateral institutions to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
In a strong message against terrorism, the two countries unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and denounced the Pahalgam terror attack. They agreed to establish a joint working group on counter-terrorism and called for decisive action against terrorists, their financiers, sponsors and proxies.
The two leaders also reiterated support for the early adoption of India’s long-pending Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations.
Defence and security emerged as a key pillar of the upgraded partnership, with the two sides welcoming the signing of a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation aimed at expanding collaboration in defence technologies, research and development, capacity building and industrial cooperation.
The two countries signed a series of agreements covering digital technologies, labour migration, higher education and research, audio-visual cooperation, critical infrastructure protection and post-quantum cryptography.
Recognising the growing strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific, Modi and Fico reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based order, emphasising freedom of navigation, peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
PM Modi receives Slovakia’s highest award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with Slovakia’s highest national award, The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class). President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini conferred the award on the PM at a ceremony in Bratislava. This is the 33rd global honour bestowed by a country upon PM Modi.
The leaders also pledged to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, 5G and 6G technologies, space applications, healthcare, green energy and resilient infrastructure.
Seeking to boost economic engagement, both sides agreed to expand trade and investment in sectors such as automotive, electronics and advanced manufacturing, leveraging Slovakia’s industrial base and India’s scale and innovation capabilities. They also encouraged exploring direct air connectivity between the two countries.
Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement earlier this year, the two leaders called for its early signing and implementation to unlock new opportunities for trade and investment.
The two countries also agreed to promote the legal mobility of skilled professionals and work towards an early conclusion of a social security agreement to protect the interests of workers moving between India and Slovakia.
Prime Minister Modi thanked PM Fico and the people of Slovakia for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, with both leaders agreeing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and regularly review the implementation of the newly announced comprehensive partnership.
