Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Slovakia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class), during his visit to Bratislava on Monday, marking the 33rd international award bestowed on him by a foreign nation.PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia since the country gained independence, making the trip a significant milestone in India-Slovakia relations.President Pellegrini welcomed Modi at the Presidential Palace, where the PM Modi signed the visitor’s book before the two sides discussed cooperation in areas ranging from trade and technology to strategic affairs. The Indian delegation included external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other senior officials.Earlier in the day, PM Modi held talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava. The two leaders oversaw the signing of Memorandums of Understanding on labour migration and digital technology, aimed at expanding cooperation between the two countries.The visit also carried symbolic significance. PM Modi and President Pellegrini attended a special yoga session organised at the Presidential Palace ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. The Slovak leader also accompanied Modi to an exhibition inspired by Varanasi, the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency.Earlier, PM Modi paid tribute to Slovakia’s fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bratislava. Accompanied by Prime Minister Fico, he honoured those who contributed to Slovakia’s liberation during the Second World War.PM Modi arrived in Bratislava on Sunday evening to a ceremonial welcome, including the traditional Slovak greeting of bread and salt. The three-day visit comes months after President Droupadi Murmu’s State Visit to Slovakia and President Pellegrini’s trip to India for the AI Impact Summit.
