New Delhi | May 20, 2026 | External Affairs
In a major diplomatic deployment aimed at reinforcing India’s strategic posture amid global fragmentation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a multi-city official visit to France and the Slovak Republic from June 13 to 18, 2026. The high-profile tour will span Nice, Bratislava, Evian, and Paris, structurally anchoring India's "multi-vector" diplomatic statecraft.
The visit positions New Delhi as the leading voice of the Global South and an indispensable partner in the emerging international tech and economic architectures, advancing its broader strategic partnership with the European Union.
1. The Nice Summit: Elevating the Special Global Strategic Partnership
The first leg of the visit will commence in Nice from June 13 to 14, 2026, featuring an intense bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Comprehensive Review: The two leaders will review the full spectrum of the India-France bilateral relationship, which was elevated to the status of a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year.
The Innovation Axis: Capitalizing on the designated India-France Year of Innovation, PM Modi and President Macron will jointly inaugurate the signature 'Bharat Innovates' event. This forum will act as a direct ecosystem bridge, clustering top innovation startups and major Venture Capital (VC) funds from India, France, and other nations to catalyze new technology partnerships.
2. The Bratislava Horizon: First-Ever State Visit to Slovakia
From June 14 to 16, 2026, Prime Minister Modi will pay a historic State Visit to the Slovak Republic at the invitation of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993.
High-Level Continuity: This landmark visit follows the momentum established by Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji’s State Visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Industrial Alignment: PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Fico and meet President Pellegrini to explore fresh avenues of cooperation. The diplomatic push is specifically engineered to reaffirm India's commitment toward strengthening bilateral ties across high-yield economic sectors, including trade, investment, and automobile and railway manufacturing.
3. The Evian G7 Summit: Championing the Global South
On the third leg of the tour, from June 16 to 17, 2026, the Prime Minister will participate in the G7 Summit in Evian, France. PM Modi's presence at the forum underscores India's elevated standing as a primary global stakeholder in managing systemic challenges.
Multilateral Solidarity: During the summit, the Prime Minister will engage with G7 leaders, invited partner countries, and International Organizations across three core strategic sessions:
Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity.
Reviving Balanced, Shared and Sustainable Economic Growth for all.
Ensuring a Safe, Rapid and Efficient Rollout of AI.
Sideline Diplomacy: PM Modi will leverage the Evian summit to hold a series of critical bilateral meetings with various world leaders on the sidelines.
4. The Paris Finale: Re-anchoring VivaTech and the Diaspora
The final leg of the tour on June 18, 2026, will bring the Prime Minister to Paris for further high-level bilateral engagements.
Europe's Tech Gateway: PM Modi will attend the VivaTech Summit, Europe's largest technology and startup event. His participation in both Bharat Innovates and VivaTech is strategically designed to spotlight India as a premier global hub for innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, driving new value-chain integration between Indian, French, and broader European technology ecosystems.
Diaspora Engagement: Before concluding the tour, the Prime Minister is expected to deliver a major address to the members of the vibrant Indian community living in Paris.