Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Europe Swing: France, Slovakia and the Road to the G7

On a crisp June morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Paris, his suitcase packed with more than just diplomatic papers – it held a fresh agenda for India’s expanding global footprint. The visit, brief yet packed, was the first stop on a two‑nation European tour that would later take him to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, before he joined world leaders at the G7 summit in Italy.

In France, Modi’s schedule read like a checklist of priorities that have shaped New Delhi’s foreign policy in recent years. He met President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée, a meeting that, while courteous, carried the weight of a strategic partnership that’s been growing since the civil nuclear agreement of 2016. The two leaders exchanged pleasantries about cricket and cuisine, but quickly moved on to the meatier issues – defence co‑operation, renewable energy, and the need for a more diversified supply chain for critical minerals.

One of the key take‑aways from the Paris talks was a pledge to expand joint exercises between the Indian and French armed forces. Both sides emphasized the importance of interoperability, especially in the Indian Ocean, where naval presence has become increasingly contested. A memorandum of understanding on the development of defence technologies, including drones and cyber‑security tools, was also signed, signalling a deepening of the defence‑industry tie‑up.

Trade, of course, featured prominently. France is among India’s top EU partners, but there’s still room to grow. Modi highlighted the opportunity for Indian pharmaceuticals, textiles and IT services to find a larger foothold in the French market, while French luxury brands and automotive firms could tap into India’s burgeoning middle class. A working group on trade barriers was set up, with the aim of clearing bottlenecks that have slowed negotiations in the past.

Climate change, another hot button, saw both leaders committing to collaborative research on hydrogen technology and offshore wind farms. Given France’s ambitious goal to become carbon‑neutral by 2050, the partnership could offer India valuable know‑how, especially as New Delhi pushes its own renewable targets.

After the high‑profile Paris meetings, Modi hopped onto a short flight to Slovakia. While the nation may be smaller in size, its strategic position in Central Europe makes it an interesting partner for India, especially in the fields of technology and education.

In Bratislava, the prime minister met Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová and Prime Minister Eduard Heger. The dialogue was noticeably more relaxed, peppered with anecdotes about Bollywood and Slovak folk music, yet it quickly turned to concrete cooperation. Both sides expressed interest in joint research projects on artificial intelligence and the development of smart‑city solutions.

Slovakia, a member of the European Union and NATO, offered a platform for India to discuss security concerns in the Indo‑Pacific through a European lens. The two countries agreed to exchange information on maritime surveillance and to explore avenues for joint training of naval officers.

Economic talks centered on expanding Indian investment in Slovak manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector, where Slovakia is often dubbed the "Detroit of Europe." In return, Slovak firms showed eagerness to tap into India’s large consumer base for high‑tech products.

Perhaps the most personal part of the Bratislava visit was a cultural exchange – a short performance of traditional Slovak dance at the Indian embassy, followed by an Indian classical music recital. It reminded everyone that diplomacy isn’t only about contracts; it’s also about people connecting across borders.

Both stops were, ultimately, a warm‑up for the G7 summit in Italy, where Modi will sit alongside leaders from the world’s richest economies. The European leg of his tour underscores a clear message: India is seeking a more balanced, multi‑polar world order, where it can partner with both traditional allies and emerging players.

As the prime minister prepares to join the G7, the agenda he carries from Paris and Bratislava – defence collaboration, clean‑energy cooperation, trade expansion, and technology sharing – will likely shape the conversations in Italy. Whether those talks translate into concrete outcomes remains to be seen, but the momentum built during this brief European jaunt is unmistakable.