Post by : Rohit Dhiman

NEW YORK: India and the four-member Visegrád Group held their first Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the V4+India format on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting brought together External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior foreign ministers from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The four Central European countries make up the Visegrád Group, commonly known as V4. The meeting opened a new platform for India and the four Central European nations to discuss areas of common interest and examine ways to expand cooperation across several sectors. Jaishankar described the gathering as a new historic occasion and said the discussions were productive.

Political And Economic Cooperation On The Agenda

The ministers discussed ways to strengthen political engagement between India and the V4 countries. One of the proposals agreed during the meeting was to hold regular meetings of foreign ministers, creating a more structured mechanism for dialogue. Economic cooperation was another major area of discussion. India and the V4 countries agreed to work towards an Annual Business Forum that could provide companies and investors from both sides with an additional platform for engagement. The discussions come as India continues to expand its engagement with European countries and the European Union. The V4 format could provide another channel for India to work collectively with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic while continuing its individual bilateral relationships with each country.

Focus On Technology, Innovation And Research

Technology and innovation also featured prominently in the discussions. The countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in technology, innovation, research and education. The ministers also discussed opportunities to increase interaction among businesses, universities, research institutions and other stakeholders. The proposed cooperation could cover areas where India and the V4 countries have established industrial, technological and research capabilities. Connectivity and people-to-people mobility were also discussed, reflecting a wider effort to strengthen links between India and Central Europe.

Defence And Security Cooperation Discussed

Defence and security formed another important part of the meeting. India already has longstanding defence relationships with the individual V4 countries. During the meeting, the sides discussed ways to further develop and strengthen this cooperation. The discussions also included regional and international security developments, along with broader questions concerning peace and stability. The participating ministers exchanged views on international developments and cooperation through multilateral institutions, including the United Nations.

V4 Countries Back India’s UNSC Permanent Membership

The meeting also brought attention to India’s long-standing push for reform of the United Nations Security Council. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the V4 countries support India having a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He said the countries agreed that India should have a place as a permanent member of the UN’s top decision-making body. The comments came during a media interaction following the first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. India has repeatedly called for reform of the UN Security Council, arguing that the structure of the international institution should better reflect present-day global realities.

Global Issues And Multilateral Cooperation

Beyond bilateral and regional cooperation, the ministers exchanged views on international and regional developments. The discussions included peace and security, contemporary global challenges and cooperation in multilateral forums. The ministers also addressed the need for reforms to multilateral institutions and discussed issues affecting countries of the Global South. The Ukraine conflict and developments in the Gulf were also among the wider international issues discussed during the meeting, according to reporting on Jaishankar’s post-meeting remarks.

Annual Meetings And Business Forum Proposed

Following the meeting, Jaishankar outlined several areas where India and the V4 countries intend to build stronger cooperation. These include closer political coordination through annual Foreign Ministers’ meetings, deeper economic engagement through an Annual Business Forum, stronger technology and research partnerships, renewed defence cooperation, cultural exchanges and greater people-to-people connections. The participating countries also agreed to work together in support of multilateralism. The Ministry of External Affairs described the inaugural meeting as an important step in establishing engagement between India and the Visegrád Group at the Foreign Ministers’ level.

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India-Europe Relations Gain Another Platform

The first V4+India meeting provides India with an additional multilateral platform for engagement with four important Central European countries. India already maintains separate bilateral relationships with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The new format provides an opportunity to discuss issues collectively and identify areas where cooperation can be expanded. For the V4 countries, engagement with India offers another channel for cooperation with one of the major economies in the Indo-Pacific region. The future of the format will depend on how the agreed areas, including annual ministerial meetings, business engagement, technology partnerships and defence cooperation, are developed in the coming period.

What Is The V4?

The Visegrád Group consists of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It is a Central European cooperation grouping.

When Was The First V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Held?

The first ministerial-level V4+India meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York in September 2026.

Who Represented India?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India at the meeting.

What Did India And The V4 Countries Discuss?

The discussions covered political and economic cooperation, technology, innovation, research, education, defence, security, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations.

What Future Cooperation Was Agreed?

The countries agreed to work towards annual Foreign Ministers’ meetings, an Annual Business Forum, stronger technology and research partnerships, renewed defence cooperation and greater cultural and people-to-people engagement.

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