As New Delhi strengthens its relations with the European Union, India and the four Visegrad Group (V4) nations — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic — have reached an agreement to enhance collaboration in political, economic, technological, defence, and interpersonal aspects, as stated by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. The group has additionally supported India's request for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The action came after Jaishankar's initial meeting with the V4 group leaders during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
"It marked, in a way, a fresh historic event," Jaishankar stated in comments following the meeting, alongside Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radek Sikorski, Hungary's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban, Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar, and Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.
"It was an extremely, extremely fruitful meeting." He mentioned that it was agreed that, given India's growing relationship with the European Union, the V4 would undertake specific initiatives to establish an annual business forum, noting that there was a "consensus" for the foreign ministers of the five countries in the group to convene each year.
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Jaishankar mentioned that the group, in collaboration with India, would additionally collaborate in technology and innovation, space, connectivity, and mobility among people. He emphasized that India maintains "very good" relations with the V4 nations.
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"We possess a robust history with all the V4 nations in terms of defense." "We aim to revitalize and advance that record and collaboration," he stated.
The minister stated that the meeting was "highly valuable" and "extremely fruitful," centering on collaboration and significant global issues, such as the Ukraine situation and happenings in the Gulf."It was truly an extremely valuable and highly productive meeting." "I'm quite happy about it," he stated in comments to reporters following the meeting.
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In a post on X, Jaishankar mentioned that the initial meeting in the V4+India format reached an agreement on enhanced political collaboration, featuring yearly gatherings of foreign ministers, as well as strengthened economic ties, including the Annual Business Forum.