Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a two-day state visit to Slovakia on Tuesday, 16 June, departing from Bratislava for Evian, France, to attend the G7 Summit. In a notable gesture, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico personally came to the hotel to see Modi off — an honour typically reserved for heads of state.

Modi calls visit 'historic and productive'

Describing the Slovakia leg of his European tour as a landmark, Prime Minister Modi posted on X: 'Concluding a historic and productive visit to Slovakia. The outcomes of this visit will go a long way in strengthening bilateral ties between our nations. Stronger trade relations will greatly benefit our youth. Gratitude to the Slovakian government and people for the warmth. I am very grateful to Prime Minister Fico for coming to see me off.'

The visit culminated in the elevation of India-Slovakia ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who confirmed Modi's departure for France in an official post on X.

Key meetings and discussions

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi held talks with both Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. The agenda covered a wide range of bilateral priorities including manufacturing, transport, innovation, investment linkages, energy, biofuels, and digital technology.

Modi described the discussions in a post on X: 'Today's talks with President Pellegrini covered diverse subjects such as closer ties in manufacturing, transport, innovation and investment linkages, energy, biofuels and more. There is also immense scope to cooperate in the field of digital technology. We also talked about deepening people-to-people linkages.'

Yoga, culture, and a Varanasi connection

Ahead of the International Day of Yoga on 21 June, a special Yoga camp was organised at the Presidential Palace of Slovakia, where Slovak youth practised yoga in the presence of both Modi and President Pellegrini. The event underscored India's sustained cultural diplomacy through yoga as a soft-power instrument.

The two leaders also viewed an exhibition at the Presidential Palace centred on Varanasi, featuring works by Slovak artists who had recently visited the ancient Indian city. Modi noted the cultural exchange, calling it a 'Banaras connect in Bratislava' and praising art's ability to bring people closer.

Slovakia's highest honour for Modi

In a significant diplomatic recognition, Slovakia conferred its highest state honour — the Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class) — on Prime Minister Modi. This marks the 33rd global honour bestowed upon him by a foreign country, reflecting his continued standing on the international diplomatic stage.

Next stop: G7 in France

Modi has now departed for Evian, France, where he is scheduled to attend the G7 Summit. The Slovakia visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Central European nation, sets a foundation for deeper bilateral engagement across trade, technology, and people-to-people ties. How the Comprehensive Partnership framework translates into concrete agreements in the months ahead will be closely watched.