Poland–India Relations: A New Chapter in Bilateral Cooperation

In 2024, marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Poland. It was the first such visit in 45 years, highlighting both the long gap in high-level engagement and the considerable untapped potential in bilateral relations. During the visit, bilateral relations were raised to the level of strategic partnership, and an Action Plan for the Implementation of the Poland–India Strategic Partnership (2024–2028) was adopted, defining the most important directions of development of bilateral relations. It prioritised trade and investment, defence, energy, critical minerals, advanced technologies, cybersecurity, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

The Intensification of Diplomatic Exchange and Cooperation Initiatives

In January 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski paid a visit to India. He met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 19 January in New Delhi. It was the first high-level visit since the relations were upgraded to strategic partnership level and was focused on political dialogue, security, economic and technological cooperation. Sikorski also attended the Jaipur Literature Festival, where he discussed Europe’s challenges amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and shifts in the global balance of power.

A potentially groundbreaking visit of Donald Tusk accompanied by Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański and the representatives of nearly 100 companies and two think tanks (Centre for International Relations and Polish Institute of International Affairs) took place on 21–23 October 2026. The delegation included firms from the defence, space, ICT, mining, energy, pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors. During the visit Polish Prime Minister met Narendra Modi and the leaders reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to implementing the 2024–2028 Action Plan. The guests visited New Delhi and Bengaluru. The 22 October 2026 India–Poland Business Forum in New Delhi was aimed at companies from defence and dual-use technologies, mining and critical minerals, agriculture/food processing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and industry, while the 23 October programme in Bengaluru was organised around round-table discussions for the IT/ICT and space sectors.

Poland aims to build long-term partnerships between both countries’ companies and double bilateral trade with India by 2030 while addressing the substantial trade imbalance, which currently favours India. According to Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS), bilateral trade between Poland and India reached €5.68 billion in 2025, with Polish exports amounting to €1.37 billion and imports to €4.32 billion. Poland primarily exported machinery, mineral products and base metals, while imports from India consisted mainly of textiles, machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The 22 October India–Poland Joint Statement confirms that both leaders agreed to pursue the doubling of bilateral trade by 2030, strengthen defence-industrial cooperation and expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other emerging technologies. The countries declared the will to expand investment and deepen cooperation in defence, critical minerals, energy, advanced technologies, cybersecurity and aerospace. They also emphasised innovation, supply-chain diversification, connectivity, academic and cultural exchanges.

The EU Aspect

The enhancement of Poland-India relations comes at a very important moment of developing the EU-India relations. The negotiations on long-awaited EU–India FTA (Free Trade Agreement) concluded on 27 January 2026. On 22 October, India’s commerce minister indicated that signing was expected before the end of 2026, so the largest trade agreement that both the EU and India have ever concluded could become operational in early 2027, creating more opportunities in trade and investment. Therefore, the Warsaw-New Delhi enhanced multidimensional cooperation goes much beyond a bilateral initiative: it is also a part of the EU’s wider strategic engagement with India and the Indo-Pacific. In this context, deepening the relations with India may provide Warsaw with an opportunity to play a more visible role in shaping the EU’s expanding engagement, while giving New Delhi a much stronger presence in Central and Eastern Europe.

From Political Symbolism to Tangible Outcomes

The October 2026 visit has not only strategic and economic significance. There is a noteworthy politico-symbolic meaning as for Donald Tusk and Narendra Modi such high-profile meeting provides an opportunity to reinforce their international standing and project an image of democratic, governance and peace-oriented leadership in the challenging times. It allows (at least, temporarily) to shift focus from mounting domestic challenges. With Poland’s 2027 parliamentary elections approaching, Tusk’s government faces the far-reaching political, economic and security repercussions of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, alongside growing political polarisation and the increasing influence of far-right political movements. Modi’s administration is challenged with growing domestic discontent, manifested by anti-government demonstrations and concerns over electoral processes and democratic accountability.

In this context, Donald Tusk’s visit reinforces narratives of effective leadership while framing stronger bilateral ties as a significant multifaceted achievement. It may be assessed as a diplomatic milestone, but its long-term impact will be measured by effective implementation of commitments. This was Donald Tusk’s second visit as Prime Minister, the first being during his earlier tenure in 2010. Over the past 16 years, since Tusk’s previous visit, Poland and India have undergone remarkable economic transformations, while their bilateral relations have evolved considerably (though they remain well below their full potential). Their economies are highly complementary. There is a solid foundation for further strengthening cooperation and broadening the partnership across a wide range of areas, including strategic, defence, and economic cooperation, as well as education, people-to-people contacts, and culture, underpinned by a genuine commitment to democratic values and institutions.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Statecraft Institute.