‘Upcoming Superpower’: Four European V4 Nations Back India’s Permanent UNSC Seat Bid

Last Updated:September 22, 2026, 04:34 IST

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were united in supporting India’s bid.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with foreign ministers of the Visegrád Group (V4).

India’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council received backing from the four members of the Visegrád Group (V4) during their first foreign ministers’ meeting with India on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were united in supporting India’s bid.

“We all agree as V4 countries that India as a part of the Global South, upcoming superpower in the Indo-Pacific region, must be at the table as the permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Blanár said after the meeting.

The statement marks a clear expression of support from the four Central European countries as India continues to seek a larger role in the UN’s top decision-making body.

India, V4 agree to deepen cooperation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the first V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting as a “new historic occasion”.

The countries agreed to strengthen political, economic, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. They also agreed to hold annual meetings of their foreign ministers and create an annual business forum.

Jaishankar said India and the V4 countries would explore greater cooperation in technology and innovation, while also seeking to strengthen existing defence ties.

“We have a very strong history with all the V4 countries in defence. We want to refresh and take forward that record and that cooperation,” he said.

Focus on tech, defence and global issues

The ministers also discussed cooperation in space, connectivity, research, education and cultural exchanges. People-to-people ties were another area of focus, with Jaishankar noting the presence of Indian students across the four countries.

The meeting also covered major international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said the countries had agreed on closer political cooperation, deeper economic engagement and stronger partnerships in technology, innovation, research and education.

He also said India and the V4 had agreed to reinvigorate defence cooperation and expand cultural and people-to-people relations, while working together to support multilateralism.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Which European nations backed India’s permanent UNSC seat bid?

The four member countries of the Visegrád Group (V4)—Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—expressed united support for India’s permanent seat bid on the UN Security Council.

Where and when did the V4 and India hold their first foreign ministers meeting?

The first V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting took place in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2026.

What new cooperative initiatives were agreed upon between India and the V4 nations?

India and the V4 countries agreed to hold annual meetings of their foreign ministers, establish an annual business forum, and deepen collaboration across political, economic, technology, defense, and people-to-people spheres.

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