Prime Minister's Departure statement ahead of his visit to France and Slovakia

📌 Summary:

• PM to visit France and Slovakia from 13–18 June 2026 on invitation of President Macron and PM Robert Fico
• France: relationship elevated earlier in 2026 to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership"; PM to meet Macron in Nice and inaugurate 'Bharat Innovates' (14 June), part of the India-France Year of Innovation
• Slovakia (14–15 June): first-ever visit by an Indian PM since Slovakia's 1993 independence; builds on India-EU FTA momentum and Strategic Partnership with the EU
• PM to attend the G7 Summit in Evian (16–17 June) — India's 8th consecutive G7 invitation, voicing the Global South
• Visit concludes in Paris on 18 June at VivaTech 2026, where India will have the largest national pavilion

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 International Relations — India's bilateral ties with France and Slovakia, EU engagement, G7 outreach and Global South leadership.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India-France ties elevated to "Special Global Strategic Partnership" (2026)
• G7 Summit 2026 venue: Evian, France; India's 8th consecutive invitation
• First visit by an Indian PM to Slovakia since its 1993 independence; events: 'Bharat Innovates', VivaTech 2026

🔑 Key Term: G7 — grouping of seven advanced economies (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada) plus the EU; India is a regular invitee, not a member.