Key HighlightsPoland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic backed India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat.The announcement came during the first V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting.Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said there was unity among the four V4 countries on India’s bid.The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.S. Jaishankar described the meeting as a “new historic occasion”.India and the V4 agreed to strengthen cooperation in technology, defence, trade, space and connectivity.What Did the Visegrád Group Say About India’s UNSC Bid?The four members of the Visegrád Group have extended collective support to India’s long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said after the meeting that all four V4 countries were united in supporting India’s permanent membership. He described India as an important country of the Global South and an emerging power in the Indo-Pacific.The Visegrád Group consists of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.Where Was the V4-India Meeting Held?The first V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting was held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.The meeting brought together External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with the foreign ministers of the four Central European countries. Slovakia is currently holding the V4 presidency and had worked to establish the new V4+India format.Jaishankar described the first meeting as a new historic occasion and welcomed closer engagement between India and the four countries.Why Is India Seeking a Permanent UNSC Seat?India has been pushing for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council for several years.The current Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.India argues that the structure of the Council should reflect the present global political and economic landscape and provide greater representation to regions that remain underrepresented. India is also a member of the G4 grouping with Brazil, Germany and Japan, which supports permanent membership for the four countries as part of wider UNSC reform.What Did India and V4 Discuss Beyond the UNSC?The discussions were not limited to India’s UNSC bid.The ministers discussed ways to expand political and economic cooperation between India and the V4 countries. Areas included technology and innovation, defence, space, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.The two sides also agreed to establish an annual business forum and hold regular meetings between foreign ministers.Energy security and major international developments were also part of the discussions.What Did Juraj Blanár Say About India?Juraj Blanár said Slovakia supports India’s ambition to become a permanent member of the Security Council. Slovakia and India are also candidates for non-permanent UNSC seats for the 2028–29 term and have agreed to support each other’s candidacies.The Slovak minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between India and Central European countries on energy security, trade and other international issues.What Does the V4 Support Mean for India?The backing from the four Visegrád countries adds another collective group of European supporters to India’s campaign for a permanent place on the Security Council.However, the V4 endorsement does not itself change the structure of the UNSC. Any expansion of permanent membership would require a broader agreement among UN member states and amendments to the UN Charter.India has previously received support for its permanent membership bid from countries including France, the UK, the US and Russia, while China has not explicitly endorsed India's claim.What Happens Next?India and the V4 countries are expected to continue their engagement through regular foreign ministers’ meetings and the planned annual business forum.The latest meeting also creates a new platform for cooperation between India and the four Central European countries on economic, technological, defence and multilateral issues.The UNSC reform process, meanwhile, remains a broader UN-level negotiation involving all member states and the existing permanent members.TimelineSeptember 21, 2026: First V4-India foreign ministers’ meeting held in New York.September 21: V4 countries express collective support for India’s permanent UNSC membership.September 22: Details of the meeting and India’s UNSC backing receive wider attention.2028–29: India and Slovakia are candidates for non-permanent UNSC seats and have agreed to support each other.
