PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome in Bratislava, meets with Slovakian PM Fico
Bratislava, June 15
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.
In a post on X he said, "The welcome in Bratislava included the traditional offering of bread and salt, a beautiful reflection of Slovakia's rich cultural heritage and the values of goodwill and friendship they cherish."
The reception for PM modi included the Kopaniciarik children's folk ensemble from the Myjava region, dressed in vibrant, traditional Slovak attire, 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. During the visit, PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Fico and meet with President Pellegrini. Discussions are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, automobile manufacturing, railway development and other strategic sectors.
In his departure statement ahead of his visit to France and Slovakia, PM had said, "I look forward to holding discussions with President Pellegrini and Prime Minister Fico in Bratislava. I will also have the opportunity to interact with Slovak business leaders. Building on the momentum of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, the visit will further energize our Strategic Partnership with the European Union, of which Slovakia is an important and valued member."
The Ministry of External Affairs underlined that the visit will reaffirm India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Slovakia and build upon recent high-level exchanges between the two countries.
— ANI
Reader Comments
First visit by an Indian PM since Slovakia became independent in 1993 - that's quite significant! Great to see the cultural elements like the folk dance performance. These people-to-people connections are just as important as the bilateral talks. 👍
It's good that India is strengthening ties with EU countries. But I hope the FTA negotiations actually result in concrete benefits for Indian businesses and workers, not just big corporates. The auto and railway sectors mentioned could be game-changers if done right.
Lovely to see the Indian community being acknowledged! 🇮🇳 For us living abroad, seeing our PM visit our host country is a matter of pride. The bread and salt ceremony reminds me of our own 'nimbu-mirchi' tradition - simple but heartfelt gestures of welcome.
Impressive that this visit follows President Murmu's state visit last year and the Slovak President's India visit for the AI Summit. The high-level exchanges are creating momentum. Now we need to see real outcomes in trade and investment, especially in manufacturing where Slovakia excels.
The diplomatic outreach is good, but I wish more attention was given to domestic issues like inflation and unemployment at home. Still, building international partnerships in strategic sectors is important for India's growth. Balance is key! 😊
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.