The Visegrád Group (V4), made up of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, has endorsed India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking after a meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the four Central European nations were united in the view that India should be included among the Council’s permanent members, citing its role as part of the Global South and as a rising power in the Indo-Pacific region.

“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.

The meeting marked the first-ever gathering between the foreign ministers of the V4 countries and India. Attended by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the talks focused on cooperation in trade, technology, defence, education and supply chains, as well as the need to reform international institutions.

Jaishankar described the meeting as the opening of a new chapter in India’s relations with the four Central European nations. Both sides also agreed to hold foreign ministers’ meetings on an annual basis and to explore the possibility of establishing an annual business forum.