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Modi in Croatia: “I Felt at Home,” Signs Key MoUs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history this week by becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Croatia, marking a significant milestone in India’s growing engagement with the European region. During his visit to the capital city of Zagreb, Modi was warmly received by his counterpart, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Reflecting on the warmth and hospitality extended to him, Modi remarked, “I felt at home.”
The visit is being hailed as a major diplomatic step, with both leaders engaging in comprehensive talks to enhance cooperation across key strategic sectors including trade, technology, defence, culture, and renewable energy.
Modi Croatia
The two Prime Ministers held delegation-level discussions focused on global peace, regional stability, and the pressing need for diplomacy in conflict zones. Modi and Plenkovic jointly affirmed that solutions to global crises must come through dialogue, not warfare—a clear signal in light of recent global tensions.
Beyond strategic dialogue, the leaders pledged to deepen economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and clean energy. A long-term defence cooperation roadmap was also announced, which includes training initiatives, joint military exercises, and enhanced defence industry linkages.
Trade Tech
A total of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit:
- Cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors
- Science and technology collaboration
- Cultural exchange programme for 2026–2030
- Extension of the Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb
These agreements are expected to serve as foundational pillars for an expanding India-Croatia bilateral relationship, with long-term benefits across both economic and cultural dimensions.
In a symbolic gesture, Prime Minister Plenkovic presented Modi with a reprint of Vezdin’s 1790 Sanskrit grammar—one of the earliest European texts on the Sanskrit language—highlighting Croatia’s deep-rooted engagement with Indian culture.
Defence MoUs
Modi also paid tribute to Croatian freedom fighters by laying a wreath at the Monument to the Homeland in Zagreb. This moment underscored shared democratic values and mutual respect between the two nations. The leaders discussed enhanced people-to-people ties, including Croatia’s growing interest in Yoga, Indology, and Indian heritage.
Prime Minister Plenkovic expressed optimism about the partnership, describing it as one rooted in “trust, mutual respect and shared ambition.” The two leaders agreed to continue pushing for stronger multilateral collaboration, peaceful diplomacy, and innovation-driven partnerships.
As Modi concluded his three-nation tour with this historic visit, the agreements and goodwill established in Croatia are expected to elevate India’s outreach in Central and Eastern Europe, reinforcing India’s strategic and cultural diplomacy on the global stage.
