India–Poland Ties Reimagined: Insights from Polish DPM Sikorski’s High-Level Visit
- Joydeep Chakraborty
- Jan 20
- 5 min read
From Warsaw to New Delhi, a relationship once defined by goodwill is now being recalibrated for strategy, as Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski visited India to deepen a rapidly expanding bilateral partnership.
That recalibration unfolded during Sikorski’s official visit to India from January 17–19, 2026, at a moment when global politics is marked by economic uncertainty, sharpening security dilemmas, and fluid geopolitical alignments. Against this backdrop, New Delhi and Warsaw are no longer content with cordiality alone. They are seeking outcomes and influence.
A Visit Framed by Global Flux
Sikorski’s visit came barely a year and a half after India and Poland elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Warsaw in August 2024. That visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly 45 years, was widely seen as a turning point, culminating in a detailed five-year Action Plan and what Poland described as a “qualitative upgrade” in ties.
This time, the focus was firmly on implementation. Sikorski’s schedule reflected that intent. Before entering the structured world of diplomatic meetings in New Delhi, he chose a different stage by visiting the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Before his official meetings in New Delhi, Radosław Sikorski chose to speak at the Jaipur Literature Festival, one of the world’s largest public intellectual gatherings. There, he addressed issues ranging from the Ukraine conflict to the future of global order and engaged directly with scholars, journalists, and civil society rather than limiting himself to closed-door diplomacy.
The choice signalled an openness to dialogue beyond official communiqués and an understanding of India as both a strategic actor and an ideas powerhouse.
Jaishankar’s Welcome and the Strategic Undercurrent
In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar welcomed Sikorski and his delegation by situating the visit within a wider global churn. He stressed that India and Poland, though geographically distant, face intersecting challenges that make sustained dialogue not just useful but necessary.
While acknowledging steady progress in bilateral relations, Jaishankar offered a candid reminder that partnerships do not run on autopilot. They require constant tending. His remarks reflected a broader shift in Indian diplomacy towards relationships that are practical, resilient, and capable of navigating disagreement without erosion.
He also recalled the August 2024 Warsaw visit as a defining moment, one that elevated ties from warmth to strategy and laid the institutional foundation for deeper cooperation.
From Intent to Implementation
The discussions signalled a shift from intent to implementation, as both sides focused on translating the Strategic Partnership and the Action Plan 2024–28 into measurable outcomes.
Trade and investment formed a central pillar of the talks. Poland today stands among India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade touching approximately USD 7 billion, which is nearly a 200 per cent increase over the past decade.
Indian IT, manufacturing, and automotive-linked companies operating in Poland have collectively invested over USD 3 billion, employing thousands of Polish professionals across cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław. These investments have increasingly positioned Poland as an entry point for Indian firms into Central and Eastern Europe.
For New Delhi, this economic footprint strengthens India’s role as a serious stakeholder in Europe’s industrial ecosystem. For Warsaw, India’s growth trajectory and vast domestic market offer diversification at a time when global trade is becoming more fragmented.
Jaishankar underscored that India’s pro-investment policies and expanding consumer base provide long-term opportunities for Polish businesses looking beyond traditional partners.
The Weight of History and the Power of Memory
Beyond numbers and agreements, culture and memory played a quieter yet powerful role in the dialogue.
During the Second World War, when hundreds of Polish women and children were displaced after being released from Soviet labour camps, they found refuge in India under the patronage of Maharaja Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar. At a camp in Jamnagar and later in Valivade near Kolhapur, the Maharaja treated the children as his own, famously telling them: “You are no longer orphans. You are now Nawanagaris.” To this day, he is remembered in Poland as the ‘Dobry Maharaj’ (Good Maharaja).
Jaishankar’s reference to this legacy was not incidental. It highlighted why India continues to enjoy a reservoir of goodwill in Poland that few other partners can claim.
He also pointed to the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme, which draws directly from this shared history, alongside the continued vitality of Indology and the popularity of yoga in Poland. These are not soft add-ons, but the emotional glue of the relationship.
Security, Ukraine, and Strategic Candour
Security concerns provided a sharper edge to the dialogue, reflecting the growing convergence between the two sides on terrorism and regional stability.
Regional and global issues naturally dominated part of the conversation. Jaishankar recalled his earlier candid exchanges with Sikorski in New York and Paris on the Ukraine conflict and its global ripple effects.
Reiterating India’s position, he strongly objected to what he described as the selective and unjustified targeting of India, including through trade-related measures. The message was clear that strategic partnerships must be rooted in fairness, not convenience.
Jaishankar also raised India’s long-standing concerns over cross-border terrorism, urging Poland to adopt a zero-tolerance approach and to avoid actions that could fuel terrorist infrastructure in the region. Sikorski, for his part, expressed support for countering cross-border terrorism and acknowledged shared concerns over selective targeting, including tariffs.
The tone of the exchange reflected diplomatic maturity without being confrontational.
Positioning Poland in India’s European Strategy
From historical goodwill to strategic convergence, the India–Poland partnership is steadily positioning itself as a pillar of India’s expanding engagement with Europe.
Sikorski’s visit reinforced Poland’s growing relevance in India’s European calculus, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It also highlighted Warsaw’s potential role as a bridge between New Delhi and the European Union.
Poland’s support for an early conclusion of an India–EU free trade agreement signals alignment beyond bilateral interests. Defence cooperation, cyber security, artificial intelligence, clean technologies, and sustainable development are now firmly on the agenda, moving the partnership well beyond traditional diplomacy.
Institutional mechanisms like annual political consultations, foreign office dialogues, and joint economic commissions are being strengthened to ensure momentum is sustained.
What the Visit Leaves Behind
The visit is expected to accelerate progress under the Action Plan 2024–28, deepen economic and defence cooperation, and expand strategic dialogue on global issues. It also sends a signal that India’s European engagement is no longer limited to traditional power centres.
For Poland, closer ties with India offer strategic depth in a multipolar world. For India, Poland represents a reliable partner with growing influence in Europe’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
A Partnership That Reflects a Larger Shift
The evolving India–Poland relationship reflects a larger trend of New Delhi’s growing focus on Central Europe as an essential partner in a multipolar world.
What began decades ago with an act of wartime compassion has matured into a relationship defined by strategy, candour, and convergence. As global fault lines deepen and alliances are tested, the India–Poland partnership offers a reminder that history, when nurtured with intent, can become a powerful foundation for the future.
In recalibrating their ties today, New Delhi and Warsaw are not just strengthening a bilateral relationship but quietly reshaping how middle powers collaborate in an uncertain world.
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