India and V4 Countries Strengthen Cooperation

On Monday (September 21, 2026), India and the Visegrad Group (V4)—comprising Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—held their first Foreign Ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. This historic event was described by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as a “new chapter in cooperation.”

The V4 group aims to foster collaboration in military, economic, cultural, and energy matters among its Central European member states. During the meeting, India and the V4 nations agreed to enhance political, economic, and defense ties. They decided to hold annual foreign ministers’ meetings moving forward.

Jaishankar highlighted the importance of deepening India’s relationship with the EU and the V4 through initiatives like an Annual Business Forum. He emphasized mutual goals in technology, innovation, and defense cooperation, noting India’s strong historical ties with all V4 countries.

The meeting also covered topics such as space exploration, connectivity, and people-to-people mobility. The ministers discussed global issues, including the Ukraine conflict and Gulf developments, aiming to support multilateralism.

Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the outcome, calling it “very productive” and expressing India’s eagerness to collaborate with the V4 nations in various fields. He noted their shared commitment to innovation and industrial capabilities, welcoming the opportunity to work together.