New Delhi, June 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for New Delhi after concluding a successful three-nation tour to Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia, marking a significant chapter in India’s diplomatic outreach. The final leg of the visit saw Prime Minister Modi in Zagreb, where he met his Croatian counterpart, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, in what was the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, widely hailed as a historic milestone in bilateral ties. Upon arrival at the Banski Dvori palace, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome, having earlier been personally received by Prime Minister Plenković at the airport, a gesture underlining the warmth of the bilateral relationship.
The two leaders held wide-ranging delegation-level talks covering trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, space cooperation, cultural ties, and people-to-people exchanges. They explored new opportunities in infrastructure, digital technologies, AI, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. Both sides welcomed the growing popularity of Indian culture and yoga in Croatia, and Prime Minister Modi extended greetings for the upcoming International Yoga Day on June 21.
Recognising the potential for greater start-up and innovation linkages, both leaders underscored the importance of enhanced business-to-business collaboration and institutional partnerships. PM Modi proposed deeper mobility cooperation, with Croatia serving as a gateway for India into Central and Southeastern Europe. Connectivity, including through the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), was also discussed.
Regional and global issues featured prominently, with both leaders exchanging views on UN reform, climate action, and counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Modi thanked Croatia for its continued support in India’s fight against terrorism. The leaders expressed optimism about the progress of India-EU strategic ties and called for an early conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
The meeting concluded with the signing of four MoUs in agriculture, science and technology, cultural cooperation, and the renewal of a Hindi Chair. A joint statement was issued, and Prime Minister Plenković hosted a formal dinner in honour of Prime Minister Modi, who in turn invited the Croatian leader to visit India at a mutually convenient time.
During his stay in Zagreb, Prime Minister Modi also met with President Zoran Milanović. Both leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment to democratic values, rule of law, and international peace. They welcomed the diversification of bilateral ties into new areas such as defence, innovation, and sports, and took note of long-standing cultural linkages between the two nations. The leaders reiterated the potential of the India-EU strategic partnership to bolster India-Croatia relations and committed to work closely to unlock new avenues of cooperation. With this, Prime Minister Modi concluded a productive and strategically significant three-nation tour, strengthening India’s partnerships across Europe and North America.
