India and the four Visegrád Group nations — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic — agree to strengthen cooperation across politics, economy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties.
New York, September 22, 2026: India and the four Visegrád Group (V4) countries have agreed to deepen cooperation across political, economic, technology, defence, education and people-to-people ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said following the first India-V4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Visegrád Group comprises Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Jaishankar described the first V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting as a new historic occasion and said the discussions were productive.
A key outcome of the meeting was a consensus to hold annual meetings of foreign ministers. India and the V4 countries will also work towards establishing an annual business forum to strengthen economic engagement and business-to-business cooperation.
Focus on Technology, Innovation and Defence
Jaishankar said the countries would explore greater cooperation in technology and innovation, while also strengthening partnerships in research and education.
Defence cooperation was another important area of discussion. The External Affairs Minister noted that India has a strong history of defence cooperation with all four V4 countries and said the sides want to refresh and take forward that relationship.
The discussions also covered space, connectivity and people-to-people mobility. Jaishankar highlighted the presence of Indian students in each of the four V4 countries as an important aspect of the relationship.
Discussions on Global Developments
The ministers also exchanged views on major international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf.
The meeting comes as India’s relationship with the European Union continues to develop, with New Delhi seeking greater engagement with individual European countries and regional groupings.
V4 Countries Support India’s UN Security Council Bid
During the meeting, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the V4 countries support India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
Blanár said the four countries believe India should have a permanent place at the UN Security Council, citing its role in the Global South and the Indo-Pacific.
The first India-V4 meeting therefore marked an expansion of India’s engagement with the four Central European nations, with the two sides seeking more regular political dialogue and wider cooperation in economic, technological and strategic areas.
