Bratislava: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Slovakia’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, during a special ceremony in Bratislava on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the growing relationship between India and the Central European nation.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini presented the prestigious award to Modi in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between India and Slovakia.
Accepting the honour, Modi dedicated the award to the people of India and described it as a symbol of the deepening friendship between the two countries.
“This honour belongs to the 1.4 billion people of India and reflects the enduring friendship and mutual trust between India and Slovakia,” the Prime Minister said.
President @PellegriniP_ of Slovakia conferred upon PM @narendramodi The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class). The PM dedicated the award to the 140 crore people of India. pic.twitter.com/XQSaFqs3KK
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2026
The visit proved to be a landmark moment in India-Slovakia relations, with Modi holding high-level discussions with President Pellegrini and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on expanding collaboration across key sectors including trade, investment, defence, technology, energy and innovation.
Following talks at the historic Bratislava Castle, Modi and Fico announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, signaling a new chapter in strategic cooperation between the two nations.
The leaders reviewed ongoing cooperation in defence, space exploration, civil nuclear energy, renewable energy, digital transformation and academic exchanges. They also identified emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, supercomputing and advanced technologies as priority areas for future collaboration.
Several agreements were signed during the visit, including Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on digital technologies, labour mobility, higher education, research partnerships and audiovisual cooperation. Both sides also exchanged a Letter of Intent aimed at strengthening defence cooperation.
In a notable initiative, India announced the establishment of the first Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Košice, reinforcing educational and technological ties between the two countries.
Economic cooperation also featured prominently during the visit. Modi and Fico jointly interacted with leading Slovak business executives representing sectors such as defence, energy, information technology, healthcare and transportation.
PM @narendramodi held talks with President @PellegriniP_ covering a wide range of subjects. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in energy, innovation, manufacturing, biofuels, transport, digital technology and investment. The leaders also explored ways to deepen… pic.twitter.com/tdUDZf2VYK
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2026
Encouraging greater economic engagement, Modi invited Slovak companies to increase investments in India, particularly in infrastructure development, renewable energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and healthcare.
The two leaders also welcomed progress toward an India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, expressing confidence that the pact would unlock new business opportunities and further boost trade and investment flows between India, Slovakia and the broader European market.
The visit is being viewed as a significant diplomatic success, underscoring India’s growing engagement with Europe and its focus on building partnerships in emerging technologies, innovation and strategic industries.
