External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi on Monday and discussed bilateral ties and global developments. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Today’s meeting with DPM & FM @sikorskiradek from Poland provided an opportunity to have an open conversation about our bilateral ties and global developments.”
He said the discussions covered several areas of cooperation between the two sides. “We discussed progress in our economic, technological, defense, mining, P2P and multilateral cooperation,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar also expressed appreciation for Poland’s support for closer engagement between India and the European Union, saying, “I appreciate Poland’s support for stronger ties between India and the EU.”
During the talks, Jaishankar emphasized the need for closer engagement between India and Poland amid heightened global uncertainty and welcomed Sikorsky and his delegation to India.
“Mr. Prime Minister, I welcome you and your delegation to India. We meet at a time when the world is in considerable turmoil, as two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities,” Jaishankar said.
Emphasizing the importance of exchanging perspectives amid evolving global developments, he said, “It is obvious that it is useful to exchange views and perspectives. Our bilateral relationship is also progressing steadily, but it needs constant care,” he said.
Referring to the overall trajectory of ties, Jaishankar said India and Poland have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations, with recent years witnessing increased political engagement along with expanding economic and people-to-people exchanges.
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024, during which bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership.
Outlining the plan ahead, Jaishankar said the two sides would review the 2024-28 action plan. “Today, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, we would review the Action Plan 2024-28, through which we seek to fully exploit the potential of our strategic partnership,” he said.
He added that discussions will include cooperation in trade and investment, defense and security, clean technologies and digital innovation.
Highlighting trade ties, Jaishankar said Poland remains among India’s major trading partners in Central Europe and pointed to growing trade and investment ties.
“Poland is one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe. Our bilateral trade, I believe, reaches USD 7 billion and has seen an increase of almost 200% over the last decade. Indian investment in Poland has exceeded USD 3 billion, which has created a number of job opportunities for Poles. India’s strong economic growth, its market size and pro-investment policy provide huge opportunities for Polish businesses,” Polish businesses said.
He also emphasized cultural and people-to-people cooperation, citing common historical ties and exchanges in education. “The Maharaja remains a valued link. I remember meeting the Polish youth in February last year as part of the first Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Exchange Program. It is encouraging that Indology continues to flourish and yoga is popular in Poland today,” he said.
On broader geopolitical issues, Jaishankar said the two sides will exchange assessments of regional and global developments, including developments in their respective neighbourhoods. “Our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments. In particular, an exchange of assessments of our respective neighborhoods would be useful,” he said.
Referring to previous discussions about the Ukraine conflict and its consequences, Jaishankar reiterated concerns about what he described as unfair selective targeting. “While doing so, I frankly shared our views on the Ukrainian conflict and its consequences. I also repeatedly emphasized that the selective targeting of India is unfair and unjustified. I do so again today,” he said.
Raising the issue of cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar called on Poland to maintain “zero tolerance for terrorism”, saying Sikorski knew the region and its long-standing problems. “Mr. Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-term challenges of cross-border terrorism. Poland should show zero tolerance for terrorism and should not help support terrorist infrastructure in our neighborhood,” he said.
In response, Sikorski thanked India for the invitation and noted his participation in the Jaipur Literary Festival. “Thank you very much for the invitation. And as I mentioned earlier, I was delighted to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival for the first time, a major global cultural event,” he said.
He said he had already visited India several times but noted that this was his first visit after the Prime Ministers of the two countries announced a strategic partnership. “I have personally been to India many times, privately and officially, but for the first time since the strategic partnership was established by our Prime Ministers,” he said.
Calling India and Poland dynamic players in their regions, Sikorski said both sides should explore new opportunities for cooperation. “We seem to be dynamic countries in our regions, so we should explore the opportunities that exist,” he said.
Referring to historical experience, Sikorski said: “We were also countries that were colonized in the 19th century. So we are particularly sensitive in this area,” he said.
Sikorski agreed with Jaishankar on terrorism and said that Poland has also faced such threats recently. “I absolutely agree with you that transnational cross-border terrorism must be confronted. Poland, as you may have heard, was the victim of arson and attempted state terrorism when a Polish railway line was blown up under a moving train just recently,” he said.
Sikorski also echoed Jaishankar’s remarks about selective targeting through tariffs and raised concerns about wider trade disruption. “I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting through tariffs. And we in Europe know something about that… We also fear that this is turning into global trade turbulence,” he said.
Noting India’s expanding diplomatic footprint in Europe, Sikorski said the reach signals stronger engagement with the European Union. “We noticed that you are establishing embassies everywhere in Europe, which means that you are serious about relations with the European Union,” he said.
Sikorski added that he hoped the Polish Prime Minister would visit India soon. “It will be our Prime Minister’s turn to come to India. And I hope it will happen, before long,” he said.
He concluded by thanking the Indian side once more and saying he was “looking forward” to further exchanges.
