Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for France and the Slovak Republic on 13 June 2026 for a six-day official visit encompassing Nice, Bratislava, Evian, and Paris. The visit was undertaken at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
On 14 June 2026, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron jointly inaugurated Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, underscoring India-France cooperation in innovation and technology. The event was held within the framework of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. Speaking at the inauguration, PM Modi stated, “This platform of ‘Bharat Innovates’ is becoming a bridge between Indian talent and European capital — a platform where India’s young minds are receiving the opportunity to connect with European expertise.”
Following the inauguration, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting. They also shared a moment at Villa Kerylos on the French Riviera.
Slovakia: First-Ever Prime Ministerial Visit
PM Modi travelled to the Slovak Republic for a state visit from 14–15 June 2026, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister since Slovakia’s independence in 1993. On arrival in Bratislava, he was welcomed by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar and received the traditional Slovak offering of bread and salt.
PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at Bratislava Castle and separately met President Peter Pellegrini at the Presidential Palace, where he signed the visitors’ book. The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
The two prime ministers reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including trade and investment, defence and security, space, civil nuclear, renewable energy, digital innovation, academic exchanges, culture, and talent mobility. They also explored avenues for collaboration in newer areas such as emerging technologies, AI, and supercomputers.
India and Slovakia announced 14 key outcomes from the visit, including the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, and agreements in defence, digital technologies, labour mobility, and scientific cooperation. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in the fields of digital technologies, labor migration, higher education and research, and audio-visual creation were exchanged. A Letter of Intent on promoting cooperation in Defence was also exchanged. It was also agreed that India would establish the first-ever chair in artificial intelligence at the Technical University of Kosice.
In a special ceremony, President Pellegrini conferred upon PM Modi Slovakia’s highest state honour, “The Order of the White Double Cross, First Class”.
PM Modi and President Pellegrini also viewed a painting exhibition at the Presidential Palace by Slovak artists dedicated to the theme “Varanasi City.”
During the visit, PM Modi and Prime Minister Fico also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bratislava. The visit built upon previous high-level exchanges: President Droupadi Murmu had undertaken a state visit to Slovakia in April 2025, and Slovak President Pellegrini had visited India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
G7 Summit and Paris
Following his engagements in Slovakia, PM Modi will participate in the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on 16–17 June 2026, with sessions covering new international partnerships, sustainable economic growth, and AI governance. In his departure statement, the prime minister said, “At the G7, India will not only speak for itself, but it will also give voice to the aspirations of the Global South.”
The Prime Minister will conclude his visit in Paris on 18 June 2026, attending VivaTech 2026 alongside President Macron, Europe’s largest technology and startup event, where India will have the largest national pavilion.
