"Looks great": PM Modi appreciates Slovak PM Fico donning the jacket gifted by him
Bratislava, June 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi complimented the jacket of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, during his historic visit to Slovakia on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video on his Instagram handle of his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico aboard a ship. During the interaction, PM Modi pointed out the colour of PM Fico's jacket, noting that it appeared to match his own.
While sharing the video, PM Modi wrote, "I think Prime Minister Fico looks great in this jacket. Prime Minister Fico wore a jacket I had gifted him. And, coincidentally, our jacket colours matched today!"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received a ceremonial welcome in Bratislava, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since it gained independence in 1993.
He received a Guard of Honour upon his arrival at Bratislava as he began the second leg of his European visit. PM Modi also met with his Slovakian counterpart, Robert Fico, at Bratislava Castle for their bilateral engagement. The two leaders also visited an art exhibition ahead of their talks.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were among those present in the Indian delegation accompanying the Prime Minister.
PM Modi was received by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar at the airport on Sunday evening and accorded a symbolic, traditional Slovak greeting- the offering of bread and salt.
The reception for PM Modi included the Kopaniciarik children's folk ensemble from the Myjava region, dressed in vibrant, traditional Slovak attire, who performed a lively folk dance.
In another post on X, PM Modi shared snippets from the captivating performance, stating, "Folk traditions such as these help preserve one's culture and history."
He also expressed gratitude to the Indian community for their warmth and affection as he arrived as India's first PM to visit the country, highlighting that such gestures reflect the enduring bonds that connect the people and strengthen the India-Slovakia friendship.
Prime Minister Modi is in Slovakia on a three-day visit at the invitation of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. The visit follows President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and the Slovak President Peter Pellegrini's visit to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an outsider, I find this fascinating—Indian PM gifting jackets to foreign leaders and then acknowledging it publicly. It's a clever way to show personal diplomacy while promoting Indian textiles and craftsmanship.
Love the 'bread and salt' tradition—so heartwarming to see our leaders receiving such warm welcomes abroad. And the kids' folk dance performance? Too cute! Moments like these strengthen people-to-people ties. ❤️
I appreciate the cultural exchange, but isn't this a bit staged? The jacket matching seems too coincidental. Would prefer to hear about concrete trade deals or strategic partnerships rather than wardrobe coordination.
First-ever Indian PM visit to Slovakia is a big deal! 🇮🇳🇸🇰 These personal touches humanize diplomacy. Plus, the guard of honour and castle meetings show we're being taken seriously in Central Europe. Salute to PM Modi's outreach!
The jacket anecdote is charming, but I'm more interested in what was discussed behind closed doors—defence cooperation, tech partnerships, trade? Hope substance matches the style of this visit. Either way, nice PR moment for India.
From bread and salt welcome to matching jackets—this visit has all the ingredients of a successful diplomatic outing! PM Modi's ability to connect
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