Jaishankar congratulates Tone Kajzer as Slovenia's new Foreign Minister
Synopsis
India moved swiftly to engage Slovenia's new government — EAM Jaishankar congratulated incoming Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer, a 30-year diplomatic veteran and former US Ambassador, days after PM Modi welcomed PM Janez Jansa's return for a fourth term. The back-to-back outreach signals New Delhi's intent to deepen a bilateral relationship that has grown steadily since 1992.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar congratulated Tone Kajzer on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Slovenia via a post on X.
Kajzer was sworn in on Thursday evening under the new right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa .
Kajzer brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience, including a posting as Ambassador to the United States .
PM Modi had earlier congratulated Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's PM; Jansa secured 51 of 90 parliamentary votes on 22 May .
India and Slovenia have maintained diplomatic ties since 1992 , with growing cooperation in innovation, logistics, and technology.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday, 7 June 2025, congratulated Tone Kajzer on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Slovenia and expressed India's readiness to work together. The outreach signals New Delhi's intent to maintain active diplomatic engagement with Ljubljana as Slovenia's new right-wing coalition government takes shape.
Jaishankar's Message to Kajzer
In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote: 'Congratulations to Tone Kajzer on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Republic of Slovenia. Looking forward to work together.' The message came shortly after Kajzer was officially sworn in on Thursday evening, following a parliamentary confirmation hearing earlier that week.
Who Is Tone Kajzer
Kajzer is a seasoned diplomat with more than 30 years of experience in Slovenia's foreign service, having begun his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995. Over the decades, he has held several senior postings, including serving as Ambassador to the United States. His portfolio has spanned international development cooperation, EU affairs, and regional stability, including work on unresolved bilateral issues with Croatia.
Modi Had Already Reached Out to PM Jansa
The diplomatic outreach from New Delhi preceded Jaishankar's message. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's Prime Minister and expressed readiness to strengthen bilateral ties. '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,' Modi posted on X.
Jansa was appointed by the Slovenian National Assembly on 22 May in a secret ballot, securing 51 votes in the 90-seat parliament, according to reports. This is Jansa's fourth term as Slovenia's Prime Minister, despite his Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) having narrowly fallen short in the March elections.
India-Slovenia Bilateral Ties
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Slovenia have shared diplomatic ties since 1992, with the relationship described as warm, friendly, and rapidly expanding. The partnership is rooted in shared democratic values, economic convergence, and multilateral cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have deepened engagement across innovation, logistics, and technology, moving well beyond standard diplomatic interaction.
With a new government now in place in Ljubljana, both sides are expected to explore fresh avenues to advance the bilateral agenda, including potential collaboration in EU-linked trade frameworks relevant to India's ongoing negotiations.
Point of View
Then Jaishankar to Kajzer — is not routine diplomatic courtesy. It reflects a deliberate strategy to embed New Delhi in European coalition transitions early, particularly with right-leaning governments that tend to favour bilateral frameworks over multilateral ones. Slovenia, as an EU and NATO member, holds outsized value for India's European engagement relative to its size. The question is whether this warmth translates into tangible movement on trade facilitation or technology partnerships, areas where India-EU momentum has repeatedly stalled. Symbolic congratulations are easy; the test is the follow-through.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did EAM Jaishankar congratulate Tone Kajzer?
Jaishankar congratulated Tone Kajzer on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Slovenia, expressing India's desire to work together. Kajzer was officially sworn in on Thursday evening under Slovenia's newly formed right-wing coalition government.
Who leads Slovenia's new government?
Slovenia's new government is led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who is serving his fourth term. He was appointed by the Slovenian National Assembly on 22 May with 51 votes in the 90-seat parliament, despite his Slovenian Democratic Party narrowly missing a majority in the March elections.
What is the current state of India-Slovenia relations?
India and Slovenia have maintained diplomatic ties since 1992. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the relationship is warm and expanding, built on shared democratic values, economic convergence, and multilateral cooperation, with recent focus on innovation, logistics, and technology.
Did PM Modi also reach out to Slovenia's new leadership?
Yes. PM Modi congratulated Janez Jansa on his election as Slovenia's Prime Minister on Thursday, posting on X that he looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties for shared prosperity. Jaishankar's message to the new Foreign Minister followed shortly after.
