Slovak Foreign Minister Blanár: EU Isn’t Asking Too Much Of India, It’s About Partnership | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 19, 2026, 16:26 IST

As tariff tensions reshape global commerce, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said Slovakia is looking to India as a stable, long-term economic partner across key sectors

It’s not every day that an Indian Prime Minister lands in Bratislava. In fact, Narendra Modi’s visit to Slovakia was the first of its kind, and it came with all the expected optics: high-level meetings with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini, an upgrade of ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, new defence cooperation signals, business outreach, and even Slovakia’s top civilian honour, the Order of the White Double Cross (First Class).

But beyond the optics and ceremony, what does this reset in ties actually mean? In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the visit had laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation in defence, technology, advanced manufacturing and energy. He dismissed suggestions that NATO membership would constrain defence ties with India, backed stronger India-EU economic engagement, and argued that both Bratislava and New Delhi can play a constructive role in supporting diplomacy on Ukraine. On the Middle East, Blanár welcomed the US-Iran memorandum, while stressing the importance of safeguarding global energy supplies and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Why has it taken more than three decades for an Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia?

Our ties formally began in 1993, but our engagement goes back much further through trade and earlier contacts. Over the years, we’ve built a steady, mutually beneficial partnership, anchored in political dialogue, economic cooperation, and growing people-to-people links.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit is really the culmination of that sustained engagement. It follows a series of high-level exchanges, including President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to India earlier this year. We see this as an important milestone, and a springboard to deepen cooperation across sectors.

Which sector do you expect to see the biggest growth in as a result of this visit: technology, energy, or manufacturing?

It’s difficult to single out just one, because these sectors are increasingly interconnected. That said, we see particularly strong potential at the intersection of technology and advanced manufacturing.

As Slovakia continues to strengthen its position as an automotive and industrial hub in Europe, integrating India’s world-class digital innovation and software capabilities into our manufacturing lines presents a natural partnership.

Furthermore, as both countries move towards greener economies, energy technologies such as green hydrogen and battery storage will be crucial. So, rather than one sector leading, we see these as complementary pillars shaping the future of our partnership.

Speaking of defence, was there any meaningful progress on defence cooperation with India, or does NATO alignment limit how far that relationship can go?

We are seeing real momentum in defence ties, both strategically and at the industrial level. The planned Letter of Intent between our defence ministries is an important step, it sets a clear roadmap for cooperation in technology, R&D, and procurement, and could eventually lead to a broader intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation.

There is already a long history of collaboration between Slovak and Indian defence industries, and this will help unlock new opportunities. Slovakia has been delivering sophisticated solutions tailored to the needs of India’s defence sector for many years, and Slovak companies have proven themselves to be credible and technologically advanced partners.

As for NATO, we don’t see it as a limitation. Today’s security challenges are global, from cyber to space to critical infrastructure. In many of these areas, India and NATO countries have overlapping interests. So, the focus is on strengthening cooperation where it makes sense, and building a practical, forward-looking partnership.

What about differences? During your talks with PM Modi, were there any areas where India and Slovakia disagreed? How were those differences addressed?

First of all, our relationship with India is grounded in mutual respect, which allows for open and honest conversations, including on areas where our perspectives may differ.

That’s natural, given our different geographies and strategic contexts. But what’s important is that we have a mature dialogue where such differences are discussed constructively.

At the same time, there is strong alignment on key principles, particularly the importance of diplomacy, respect for international law, and adherence to the UN Charter as the basis for lasting peace.

The India–EU FTA has been concluded but is not yet in force. Do smaller EU economies like Slovakia risk being left behind once it is implemented?

It would be a misconception to assume that smaller EU economies will be left behind. On the contrary, Slovakia actually expects to gain from the agreement, not lose out.

We may be smaller in size, but we are a highly open, export-driven and industrial economy, which positions us well as a partner for India’s growing global footprint.

The elevation of our ties to a Comprehensive Partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bratislava reflects that ambition. Once the FTA is implemented, it should open up new opportunities on both sides and improve access to each other’s markets, particularly in sectors like automotive, where Slovakia remains the world’s largest producer of cars per capita.

Slovakia has been directly impacted by the Ukraine war. Did that conversation feature prominently in your discussions with PM Modi? And do you believe Bratislava and Delhi can jointly play a meaningful role in pushing diplomacy and de-escalation?

The war in Ukraine is, of course, a key concern for Slovakia as it directly affects our security environment. While our discussions with PM Modi focused primarily on strengthening the new Comprehensive Partnership and on expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, innovation, defence and people-to-people contacts, it was natural that we also exchanged views on Ukraine and broader global security issues.

Our position is clear: a lasting solution cannot come through military means alone. We support diplomatic efforts towards a just and durable peace, in line with international law and the UN Charter, and believe negotiations should resume when conditions allow. We also believe that Europe should be directly involved and more active in discussions concerning European security, as the consequences of this war will be felt primarily on our continent.

As for Slovakia and India, neither of us can determine the outcome of the conflict, but both can play a constructive role in supporting dialogue and de-escalation. India is an increasingly influential global actor with an important voice in international affairs, while Slovakia offers a frontline European perspective. Although, Slovakia and India cannot decide the outcome of peace negotiations by themselves, but together, we can contribute to keeping diplomacy alive.

At the same time, Slovakia continues to support Ukraine in practical ways, particularly in energy resilience and civilian infrastructure, while also backing initiatives that move us closer to peace and long-term stability in Europe.

Speaking of Europe, which still struggles to fully decouple from Russian energy, don’t you think the EU is asking too much of countries like India while making compromises of its own?

Europe has taken significant and, frankly, costly steps to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, and that transition is still ongoing. The EU has collapsed Russia’s share of its gas mix from 45% down to approximately 12%, implemented a total ban on coal, and codified a timeline to phase out remaining gas imports.

At the same time, we fully recognise that energy security is a sovereign priority. Countries like India have their own economic realities and development needs, and those have to be respected.

So, rather than viewing this as one region asking too much of another, the focus should be on partnership. Whether it’s green hydrogen, renewables, or more resilient supply chains, there is real scope for India and the EU to work together in a way that supports both energy security and the broader transition.

With Trump’s tariff threats creating global trade uncertainty, was this discussed in your talks, and how might it affect Slovakia’s trade ties with partners like India?

Yes, global trade uncertainty and rising protectionism did come up in our discussions. For an export-driven economy like Slovakia, these shifts are closely watched. They also reinforce the need to diversify partnerships and build stronger ties with reliable partners, and India is clearly one of them.

Our trade has already exceeded €1.5 billion in recent years, and we see further potential, particularly in areas like technology, innovation, and resilient supply chains. Strengthening this relationship helps create a more stable, rules-based economic footing, even as global trade becomes more unpredictable.

With the US–Iran memorandum now in place, do you see risks around the Strait of Hormuz easing, or does Europe still remain vulnerable to potential energy and shipping disruptions?

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy chokepoint. While Slovakia does not directly import oil or gas through it, we are part of the wider European energy market, so any disruption would still be felt through higher prices, transport costs, and broader economic pressure.

We welcome the US–Iran memorandum and hope it creates space for de-escalation and further dialogue in the region.

At the same time, the focus in Europe is on preparedness, strengthening coordination among EU member states, diversifying energy sources and routes, and maintaining adequate strategic reserves. Ensuring freedom of navigation and the stability of global energy supplies remains a key priority for us.

About the Author

Sukanya SahaTV Anchor

Sukanya Saha is a television anchor at CNN-News18 who regularly attends major geopolitical summits and tracks foreign affairs with a close eye on shifting global power dynamics. With over eight years ...Read More

News india Slovak Foreign Minister Blanár: EU Isn’t Asking Too Much Of India, It’s About Partnership | Exclusive

Read More