New York: India and the four-member Visegrád Group (V4) comprising Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic—have agreed to significantly deepen cooperation across politics, trade, technology, defence, connectivity and people-to-people ties. Marking a historic milestone in the India-Europe strategic partnership, India & the V4 countries held maiden V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meet.
The inaugural meeting, held on September 21 on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, also saw the V4 group reiterating unequivocal support for India’s permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Delighted to join the Visegrád Group DPM & FM @radeksikorski #Poland DPM & FM @_OrbanAnita #Hungary FM Juraj Blanár #Slovakia and FM @petr_macinka #Czechia on the sidelines of #UNGA81. Our first meeting in the V4+India format agreed to:
✅ Closer political cooperation including… pic.twitter.com/mBqMTkC6QN
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2026
V4+India: A new impetus for strategic cooperation with Central Europe
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar participated in the first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting alongside Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orbán.
The meeting was held under Slovakia’s presidency of the V4 and marked the first ministerial-level engagement between India and the Central European grouping in this format. Describing the gathering as a “new historic occasion”, EAM Jaishankar said the discussions were productive and resulted in an agreement to establish more regular institutional engagement mechanisms.
“Since India’s relationship with the European Union itself is deepening, with the V4 we would take some special initiatives to create an annual business forum. As foreign ministers, we would meet annually—that was the consensus”, EAM Jaishankar further added.
Appreciated meeting my European Union colleagues this afternoon in New York #UNGA81
Discussed India-EU cooperation, multilateral issues and current developments, including in the Gulf, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.#UNHighLevelWeek pic.twitter.com/cstCNWNrs9
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2026
Annual Business Forum, technology and defence cooperation in focus
The countries agreed to deepen economic engagement, including through an Annual V4+India Business Forum, while exploring opportunities in technology, innovation, research and education. EAM Jaishankar also highlighted the industrial and technological capabilities of the V4 countries and said that India would explore ways to expand cooperation in these areas.
Defence cooperation also emerged as a key pillar of the new framework. EAM Jaishankar noted that India has a strong defence relationship with all four V4 countries and expressed an interest in reinvigorating existing cooperation. “We have a very strong history with all the V4 countries in defence. We want to refresh and take forward that record and that cooperation”, he further stated.
The discussions among Foreign Ministers of V4 countires and India also covered resilient supply chains, connectivity, space, education, mobility and people-to-people exchanges. The ministers noted opportunities for greater interaction among businesses, academic institutions, research organisations and other stakeholders.
Media Briefing after the first Visegrád Group (V4) + India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting #UNGA81 #UNHighLevelWeek
🇮🇳 🇸🇰 🇵🇱 🇭🇺 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/DTZTgyKFeQ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2026
V4 backs India’s permanent UNSC membership
A major diplomatic takeaway from the meeting was the V4’s unequivocal support for India’s permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council(UNSC). Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said that the four V4 countries agreed that India should have a permanent seat on the UN’s top decision-making body.
‘We all agree as V4 countries that India as a part of the Global South, upcoming superpower in the Indo-Pacific region, must be at the table as the permanent member of the UN Security Council’
– Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár of Slovakia after the first V4 + India FMM #UNGA81… pic.twitter.com/QwFsjlXWYC
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2026
“We all agree as V4 countries that India, as a part of the Global South, upcoming superpower in the Indo-Pacific region, must be at the table as the permanent member of the UN Security Council”, Blanár said. The V4 support comes as India continues to advocate comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make the institution more representative to suit contemporary global realities.
The ministers also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums and the need for reformed multilateralism, including addressing contemporary challenges affecting the Global South.
Energy security and resilient supply chains on agenda
Energy security and the impact of global conflicts on supply chains also featured prominently in the maiden meet of V4+India. According to the Slovak Foreign Ministry, India and the V4 countries highlighted the importance of a pragmatic approach to energy security and diversification, particularly amid disruptions caused as an impact of the conflicts and uncertainity in the global energy markets.
Blanár said India, Europe and the V4 countries were facing significant challenges linked to the Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia. The emphasis on resilient supply chains also reflects growing interest in reducing vulnerabilities arising from disruptions to trade, energy and critical economic networks.
Ukraine, West Asia conflict & global challenges discussed
Beyond bilateral and economic cooperation, the ministers exchanged views on major international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and the security crisis in West Asia. EAM Jaishankar described the discussion as a useful exchange on major global crises, alongside the broader agenda of India-V4 cooperation.
The ministers also discussed regional, international peace & security and cooperation through multilateral institutions.
V4+India format to deepen India-Europe engagement
EAM Jaishankar wrote on the X social media platform that during inaugural meeting members agreed on closer political cooperation, deeper economic engagement, stronger technology and innovation partnerships, reinvigorated defence cooperation and expanded cultural and people-to-people relations.
The initiative provides an additional platform for India to work collectively with four Central European economies and other European countries, while building on its longstanding bilateral relations with each of the V4 members. The V4+India forum also seeks greater importance in the backdrop of recently concluded India-EU FTA, which is characterised as “mother of all deals”.
Deepening partnership with V4 countries aid to realise the goals of the FTA effectively. Meanwhile, the FTA acts as an impetus to further strengthen the strategic ties with these European countries. V4 central European nations will also act as a gateway to extend India’s reach to other European countries.
The V4, comprising Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, is a Central European grouping established in 1991. The four countries cooperate across political, economic, cultural, energy and security-related areas. For India, the newly launched V4+India format adds another strategic layer to its engagement with Europe at a time when India-EU relations are expanding across trade, technology, connectivity, supply-chain resilience and strategic cooperation.
