External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has described the first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ meeting as a “new historic occasion”, as India and the four Central European countries agreed to expand political, economic and defence cooperation.
The meeting was held on September 21 on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Jaishankar joined Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár and Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.
The Visegrad Group, comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, has traditionally focused on cooperation in areas including defence, economics, energy and culture. The new V4+India format seeks to add momentum to India’s existing bilateral relationships with the four countries.
According to Jaishankar, the ministers agreed to hold annual foreign ministers’ meetings and explore the creation of an annual business forum. Discussions also covered technology and innovation, research, education, defence, space, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. The ministers also discussed major international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf.
A significant diplomatic development followed the meeting, with Slovakia voicing support for India’s bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the V4 countries agreed that India should have a permanent place at the UN’s top decision-making body.
Jaishankar said the meeting reflected the potential for deeper engagement between India and the V4 nations, particularly as India’s relationship with the European Union continues to develop.
