PM Modi congratulates Janez Jansa on election as Slovenia's PM
Synopsis
Janez Jansa is back as Slovenia's Prime Minister for a fourth time — and India was among the first to respond. Modi's congratulatory X post signals New Delhi's intent to build on a quietly deepening India-Slovenia partnership, with trade, technology, and a pending India-EU FTA all on the table.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's Prime Minister on 28 May .
Jansa was appointed by the Slovenian National Assembly on 22 May with 51 votes in the 90-seat parliament — his fourth term as PM.
India and Slovenia held the 10th JCTEC session in New Delhi in November , covering trade, technology, and tourism.
Both nations expressed optimism for an early conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) .
Sectoral cooperation spans agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, MSMEs, tourism, and Ayurveda .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 28 May extended congratulations to Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's Prime Minister, expressing his intent to deepen bilateral ties between India and Slovenia for shared prosperity. The message, posted on X, signals New Delhi's readiness to engage with Ljubljana's new leadership at a time when India-EU ties are gaining momentum.
Modi's Message to Jansa
In his post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations to Mr. Janez Jansa on his election as the Prime Minister of Slovenia. I look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen our bilateral ties for the shared prosperity and mutual benefit of our people.'
Jansa's Fourth Term as Slovenia's PM
Janez Jansa was appointed Prime Minister by the Slovenian National Assembly on 22 May in a secret ballot, securing 51 votes in the 90-seat parliament, according to reports. Notably, this is Jansa's fourth term as Slovenia's Prime Minister — a return to power despite his Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) having narrowly fallen short of a majority in the March elections.
India-Slovenia Bilateral Ties: Growing Depth
The congratulatory message comes against a backdrop of strengthening India-Slovenia engagement. In November, India and Slovenia held the 10th session of the India–Slovenia Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) in New Delhi. The two sides reviewed bilateral economic ties and explored sectoral cooperation across agriculture, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, health, transport, energy, tourism, MSMEs, and Ayurveda.
Secretary (West) Sibi George had also received a Slovenian delegation led by Peter Japelj, Director General for Economic, Cultural and Scientific Diplomacy at Slovenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where discussions centred on the '3 Ts' — Trade, Technology, and Tourism, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
India-EU FTA on the Horizon
Both nations expressed optimism for the early conclusion of a balanced India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Bilateral trade between India and Slovenia has shown a consistent upward trajectory over recent years, reflecting the growing resilience of the partnership.
With Jansa now beginning his fourth term, New Delhi will be watching closely whether the renewed Slovenian leadership accelerates momentum on the pending India-EU trade framework.
Point of View
But the context is anything but. Jansa's return for a fourth term — despite his party failing to win outright in March — reshapes Slovenia's political calculus at a moment when India is actively courting EU member states ahead of a long-pending India-EU FTA. New Delhi's 3 Ts framework with Ljubljana is modest in scale but strategically placed: Slovenia sits at Central Europe's crossroads and its goodwill in Brussels is not negligible. Whether Jansa's government accelerates or complicates the FTA timeline is the real question mainstream coverage is not asking.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi congratulate Janez Jansa?
PM Modi congratulated Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's Prime Minister on 28 May, expressing his intent to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Slovenia. Jansa was appointed by the Slovenian National Assembly on 22 May with 51 votes in the 90-seat parliament.
What is Janez Jansa's political history?
Janez Jansa is beginning his fourth term as Slovenia's Prime Minister, making him one of the country's most enduring political figures. His return came despite the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) narrowly failing to secure a majority in the March elections.
What is the current state of India-Slovenia bilateral ties?
India and Slovenia held the 10th session of the Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) in New Delhi in November, covering sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, tourism, MSMEs, and Ayurveda. Bilateral trade has shown a consistent upward trajectory in recent years.
What is the India-EU FTA and how does Slovenia factor in?
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is a long-pending trade deal between India and the European Union. Both India and Slovenia expressed optimism for its early conclusion during the JCTEC session, and Slovenia's support as an EU member state is seen as part of India's broader EU engagement strategy.
What are the '3 Ts' in India-Slovenia diplomacy?
The '3 Ts' refer to Trade, Technology, and Tourism — the three pillars of India-Slovenia bilateral cooperation discussed when Secretary (West) Sibi George met a Slovenian delegation led by Peter Japelj in New Delhi.
