Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed several agreements with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday during a visit to Bratislava ahead of his participation in the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the French town of Évian.
Modi and Fico signed agreements covering the defence industry, digitization, nuclear energy and space travel, the two told reporters at a joint press conference.
Slovakia has been presenting itself to India as a potential gateway to Europe. In Bratislava, Modi's visit is being seen as a significant gesture of recognition, coming between his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and the G7 summit.
Since returning to office in 2023, Fico has made a series of trips to countries in Asia and Latin America and has repeatedly stressed that he wants to pursue a foreign policy "in all four directions."
Modi's office also suggested in a previous statement that Slovakia was viewed as a door-opener to the European Union, "of which Slovakia is an important and valued member."
