Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class), the highest state decoration of the Slovak Republic, by President Peter Pellegrini at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on 15 June 2026. The honour, which is the 33rd international award received by PM Modi, was dedicated by him to the 140 crore people of India. The visit, the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993, also saw the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership with the signing of 11 agreements spanning defence, digital technology, labour mobility, and higher education.
What Is the Order of the White Double Cross?
The Order of the White Double Cross (Slovak: Rad Bieleho dvojkríža) is the highest state decoration of the Slovak Republic. It was instituted on 1 March 1994, shortly after Slovakia became an independent nation on 1 January 1993 following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia, often called the Velvet Divorce. The award continues the tradition of the Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion, which was created in 1922 for foreign recipients.
The Order is conferred exclusively on foreign citizens by the President of Slovakia. The sole exception is the sitting Slovak President, who receives the Order from the National Council upon inauguration for the duration of their term. The decoration is awarded for exceptional contributions to the comprehensive development of bilateral relations, strengthening Slovakia’s position in international relations, and meeting its foreign policy priorities.
The Order has three classes:
- First Class (Grand Cross), the highest grade, worn with a sash on the right shoulder and a breast star on the left chest
- Second Class (Grand Officer), worn on a necklet with a breast star
- Third Class (Commander), worn on a necklet
PM Modi received the First Class, the highest grade of the honour. The insignia features an eight-pointed gold breast star with a white double cross on a red enamel background at its centre, surrounded by a gold wreath of laurel and oak leaves. The award has both civil and military divisions, with the military variant incorporating crossed swords on the insignia.
Comprehensive Partnership: A New Chapter
India and Slovakia elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership during PM Modi’s talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the historic Bratislava Castle. PM Modi described the upgraded relationship as a reflection of “shared beliefs, shared priorities, and shared future” between the two nations.
The Comprehensive Partnership framework is designed to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms and create new avenues for collaboration at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Slovakia’s support was instrumental in the finalisation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, and both leaders agreed to work towards its earliest implementation to boost economic engagement.
This elevation builds on significant diplomatic momentum. It follows President Droupadi Murmu’s State Visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026. These high-level exchanges signal a deepening strategic convergence between New Delhi and Bratislava, particularly in technology, defence, and energy security.
The two leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, including diversification through nuclear energy and geothermal power, alongside collaboration in automobiles, railways, advanced manufacturing, and green technologies.
Key Agreements Across Strategic Sectors
PM Modi and Prime Minister Fico finalised 11 agreements covering a wide range of strategic areas. Below is a summary of the key pacts:
| Sector | Agreement Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Defence | Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation | Joint development, production, and collaboration between defence industries |
| Labour Mobility | MoU on Labour Migration | Facilitate orderly, safe, and legal mobility of skilled professionals |
| Digital Technology | MoU on Digital Technologies | Cooperation in digital public infrastructure and emerging tech |
| Higher Education | MoU on Higher Education and Research | Student exchanges, scholarships, and joint research |
| Quantum Technology | MoU on Quantum Communication and Critical Infrastructure Protection | Safeguard IT systems against quantum threats; post-quantum cryptography |
| Audio-Visual | MoU on Audio-visual Creation | Collaboration in film and media production |
| Scientific Research | MoU between Indian National Science Academy and Slovak Academy of Sciences | Joint scientific research and knowledge sharing |
| Academia | Agreement between IIT-Delhi and Slovak Technical University | Student exchanges and joint academic programmes |
| Health | MoU between National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune and Slovak Health Spa Piestany | Promote traditional systems of healthcare |
| Tourism | Agreement between tour operators’ associations | Enhance tourism cooperation |
The Letter of Intent on defence cooperation was a particularly notable outcome. PM Modi stated that defence ties between India and Slovakia are a testament to the deep mutual trust and strategic convergence between the two sides. The pact aims to give new momentum to cooperation between defence industries of both countries.
Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism
In a significant step towards security cooperation, India and Slovakia agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and specifically condemned the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April 2025.
The joint statement called for concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism within the framework of the United Nations. They called for strong and decisive action against terrorists and terrorist entities designated by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, as well as their affiliates, proxies, sponsors, financiers, and supporters.
The two sides underscored the importance of holding perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of terrorist acts accountable. They agreed to work closely towards the early finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) within the United Nations framework, a long-standing priority for India.
Alongside the counter-terrorism JWG, both nations launched a Consular Dialogue mechanism to strengthen cooperation on consular matters and ensure smoother engagement for citizens of both countries.
ICCR Chair in AI at Technical University of Kosice
A notable outcome of the visit was the announcement of the first-ever Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Kosice (TUKE) in eastern Slovakia. PM Modi welcomed this initiative, stating that AI should become “a powerful means of serving and advancing humanity” and that its development must prioritise ethical considerations.
The ICCR, established on 9 April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education Minister, is the principal instrument of India’s cultural diplomacy. It operates under the Ministry of External Affairs with headquarters at Azad Bhawan in New Delhi. The Council establishes Chairs of Indian Studies and Indian languages in foreign universities to promote greater understanding of India’s civilisation, culture, and contemporary developments.
The Technical University of Kosice, founded in 1952, is the second-largest university in Slovakia and the largest technically oriented institution in the country, with over 13,500 students. It houses the Perun supercomputer and hosts the only academic 5G campus network in Slovakia. TUKE is a member of the ULYSSEUS European University consortium, which collectively hosts over 225,000 students across 143 faculties in Europe.
The ICCR Chair in AI at TUKE is expected to foster academic collaboration, research partnerships, and student exchanges between India and Slovakia in one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century. PM Modi highlighted that technology is an important pillar of the India-Slovakia partnership, alongside the MoU on digital technologies that will open new avenues of cooperation in digital public infrastructure.
A Historic Visit in the Broader European Context
PM Modi’s visit to Slovakia was part of a wider week-long European tour (13-18 June 2026) that also included bilateral engagements in France and participation in the G7 Summit in Evian. This was the eighth consecutive G7 Summit to which India was invited, reflecting its growing global profile.
The Slovakia leg of the tour carried special significance. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since it became an independent nation in 1993. Slovakia, a landlocked Central European country with Bratislava as its capital, is a member of the European Union (since 2004), NATO (since 2004), the Schengen Area (since 2007), and the eurozone (since 2009). It is known as the “European Detroit” for being the world’s largest per-capita car producer, with the automotive sector accounting for 44% of its total industrial output.
The visit was marked by cultural exchanges as well. A special yoga session was organised at the Presidential Palace ahead of the International Day of Yoga on 21 June. PM Modi also visited an exhibition at the Palace inspired by Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. Slovak President Pellegrini had earlier presented President Murmu with the first-ever Slovak translation of the Upanishads during her 2025 visit, highlighting the deep cultural and spiritual connections between the two nations.
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi was conferred the Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class), the highest state decoration of Slovakia, by President Peter Pellegrini on 15 June 2026 in Bratislava.
- This was the 33rd international honour received by PM Modi and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993.
- India and Slovakia elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership and signed 11 agreements covering defence, labour migration, digital technology, higher education, and quantum communication.
- Both nations established a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and a Consular Dialogue mechanism. They condemned the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025 and supported early adoption of the CCIT.
- The first-ever ICCR Chair in Artificial Intelligence was announced at the Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia’s largest technical university.
- ICCR was founded on 9 April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and operates under the Ministry of External Affairs from Azad Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Slovakia, with capital Bratislava and currency Euro, joined the EU and NATO in 2004 and is the world’s largest per-capita car producer.
