India, Slovakia to Establish Joint Counterterrorism Working Group
As part of PM Modi's visit, India and Slovakia signed several Memoranda of Understanding covering labour migration, higher education and research, and audio-visual cooperation
Bratislava [Slovakia]: India and Slovakia have agreed to establish a joint working group on counterterrorism cooperation and launch a consular dialogue mechanism, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Slovakia.
Addressing a press conference, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George said the visit marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations and would provide fresh momentum to cooperation across multiple sectors.
“India and Slovakia agreed to have a joint working group on cooperation in counterterrorism and the establishment of a consular dialogue between India and Slovakia. Slovakia reiterated its support for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council and the expansion of the UN Security Council,” George said.
PM Modi is on the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country's independence in 1993. During the visit, he held delegation-level talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and also met Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.
Describing the visit as historic, George said, “Today is a historic day for India-Slovakia relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a state visit to Slovakia at the invitation of Prime Minister Robert Fico. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993.”
According to George, the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged views on major regional and global developments.
“The Prime Ministers covered the entire spectrum of bilateral relationships and exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, including the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the situation in West Asia and the India-EU relationship,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded earlier this year, which George said had generated renewed momentum in India’s engagement with EU member states, including Slovakia.
Highlighting the significance of the upgraded partnership, George said the move would strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms and open new avenues for collaboration both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Responding to a question on United Nations Security Council reforms, George reiterated India’s long-standing position on restructuring global institutions.
“India believes that it is important to have reforms in the United Nations. The United Nations is unfortunately stuck in the past. It must reflect the realities of today,” he said.
Noting India’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and its status as the world’s largest democracy, George added that Slovakia had reaffirmed its support for India’s permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council.
As part of the visit, India and Slovakia signed several Memoranda of Understanding covering labour migration, higher education and research, and audio-visual cooperation. The agreements aim to boost talent mobility, academic exchanges, cultural cooperation and professional opportunities between the two countries.
In a special gesture, President Pellegrini conferred Slovakia’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Double Cross First Class, on Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his contribution to strengthening India-Slovakia relations.
