New Delhi, India – India and Slovenia engaged in wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation during the 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations, held on 6 May in New Delhi. The meeting underscored both nations’ commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic ties.

High-Level Delegation Talks

The consultations were led by:

Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (India)
Marko Stucin, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Slovenia)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the meeting served as a comprehensive review of progress made in various bilateral areas, with a focus on enhancing mutual cooperation.

Key Areas of Collaboration

Discussions spanned multiple sectors, including:

Political relations
Trade and investment
Science, technology, and innovation
Space and digitalisation
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Migration and mobility
Defence and agriculture
People-to-people exchanges and cultural ties

Both countries also shared perspectives on regional and global developments, strengthening their joint diplomatic engagement.

Celebrating 35 Years of Diplomatic Relations

India and Slovenia will commemorate the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2027. The delegations agreed to mark this milestone in a significant manner.

High-Level Meetings and Strengthening Ties

Following the consultations, State Secretary Marko Stucin made a courtesy call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reinforcing the strong partnership between India and Slovenia.

Jaishankar, sharing the discussions on X (formerly Twitter), stated: “Pleased to receive State Secretary @markostucin of Slovenia in Delhi today. Discussed India’s strong bilateral and multilateral partnership with Slovenia.”

Historical and Diplomatic Ties

Slovenia attained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
India recognized Slovenia on 11 May 1992 and supported its UN membership.
Slovenia was admitted into the UN on 23 May 1992.
India established its resident mission in Ljubljana in February 2007.
Slovenia opened its embassy in New Delhi in August 2002, upgrading it to Ambassador-level in 2009.

Jaishankar’s Visit to Slovenia

In September 2021, Jaishankar became the first Indian Cabinet Rank External Affairs Minister to visit Slovenia, attending:

16th annual Bled Strategic Forum (BSF).
Gymnich meeting of EU Foreign Ministers.

Charting a Future Path

The consultations paved the way for deeper collaboration, reinforcing diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and strategic partnerships. As both nations move forward, the India-Slovenia alliance remains poised for further growth across diverse sectors.