PM Modi arrives in Slovakia, first Indian PM to visit since 1993
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Bratislava for talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Roberto Fico. The visit, the first by an Indian prime minister since Slovakia’s 1993 independence, is aimed at widening collaboration in trade, technology and investment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Slovakia for the second leg of his three-nation European tour, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the nation since it gained independence in 1993.
During his two-day stay in Bratislava,
Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. He will also engage with leading Slovak business executives to explore opportunities for expanding economic collaboration between the two countries.
Soon after his arrival, Modi said the visit would help deepen India-Slovakia ties and open new avenues of collaboration. “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,” he posted on
The prime minister arrived in Slovakia after concluding engagements in France, where he held bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and attended the inaugural of the Bharat Innovates event in Nice.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi was greeted by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanr and received a traditional bread-and-salt welcome, a symbol of hospitality, respect and goodwill in Slovakia.
Ahead of the visit, Modi described the trip as historic and said it builds on the growing momentum in bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that discussions with Slovak leaders and business representatives would further strengthen collaboration in key sectors.
The MEA said the visit follows a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries, including President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and President Pellegrini’s visit to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
India and Czechoslovakia are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, railway production and emerging technologies. New Delhi also views the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen its engagement with the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member.
After concluding his Slovakia tour, Modi will travel to France to participate in the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16-17. He is expected to hold discussions with G7 leaders and partner countries on global issues such as international collaboration, economic growth and artificial intelligence, besides holding a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
The final leg of his tour will take him to Paris on June 18, where he will attend VivaTech 2026, Europe’s largest technology and startup event, beside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Indian Prime Minter Narendra Modi arrived in Bratislava on a State Visit on Monday, becoming the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia since the nation gained independence in 1993.
Upon stepping off the aircraft, PM Modi was received by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár and according to a symbolic, traditional Slovak greeting: the offering of bread and salt.
What’s behind the bread-and-salt welcome?
In Slovak and broader Slavic cultures, welcoming an honored guest with a loaf of freshly baked bread and a small dish of salt is the highest expression of hospitality, respect, and goodwill. According to tradition, bread represents prosperity, sustenance, and the sharing of the blessings of the earth, and salt symbolizes lasting value, enduring friendship, and protection.
The reception included a colorful cultural showcase. The Kopaniciarik children’s folk ensemble from the Myjava region, dressed in vibrant, traditional Slovak attire, performed a lively folk dance to welcome the Indian leader.
‘Vande Mataram’ echoes in Bratislava
The cultural bridge-building continued as Prime Minister Modi reached his hotel, where a massive crowd from the Indian diaspora had gathered, waving tricolors and chanting “Modi, Modi.”
The atmosphere turned emotional as the renowned Slovak cultural group, the Lúčnica Ensemble, delivered a moving rendition of India’s national song, “Vande Mataram.” Modi also witnessed a spiritual performance by a local Slovakian musical group, the Mahadeva Kirtan Projekt, highlighting a unique cultural exchange between the two nations.
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,” PM Modi posted on
strategic bilateral agenda
PM Modi arrived in Slovakia for the second leg of his European tour, fresh from bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice.
During his two-day stay in Bratislava, which follows a state visit by Indian President Drupadi Murmu in 2025, Modi is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. Discussions are expected to center around boosting economic cooperation, manufacturing, railway development, and trade. He will also interact with top Slovak business executives to explore strategic investment opportunities.
Following his engagements in Bratislava, the Prime Minister will head back to France to attend the G7 Summit in Ebian.
in Slovakia for the second leg of his two-nation tour, where he will hold talks with President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico and interact with business leaders.
Bratislava [Slovakia], June 15 :
A Slovak musician who says he discovered the “miracle of mantra” during a visit to India was among the artists who performed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his grand welcome in Bratislava, highlighting the growing cultural bonds between India and Slovakia during the Indian leader’s historic visit to the country.
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