Visegrád Group Backs India's Permanent UN Security Council Bid

The Visegrád Group (V4)—comprising Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—formally backed India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The announcement came during the inaugural V4+India Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

Subramanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, and his V4 counterparts agreed to a structured framework for cooperation, including the establishment of an annual business forum and a commitment to hold foreign ministerial meetings every year. The discussions focused on deepening ties in defense, space research, technology, and connectivity. Jaishankar described the meeting as a "new historic occasion" that complements India's deepening relationship with the European Union.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who convened the meeting under Slovakia's V4 presidency, characterized the session as a "historic success for Slovak diplomacy" following an 11-year effort to establish the format. Blanár stated that India, as an upcoming superpower in the Indo-Pacific and a leader of the Global South, "must be at the table" as a permanent member of the Security Council.

The ministers also addressed global crises, including the conflict in Ukraine and instability in the Gulf, while discussing energy security and the EU-India Free Trade Agreement expected in December. This diplomatic outreach occurs amid strained relations between India and the United States over an unfinished trade deal and U.S. laws allowing President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy.