India–Poland ties: EAM Jaishankar reviews economy, tech and defence cooperation; flags ‘selective targeting’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, reviewing bilateral cooperation in economy, technology and defence while exchanging assessments on global and regional developments amid heightened international uncertainty.In a post on X after the meeting, Jaishankar said the discussions provided “an opportunity for an open conversation on our bilateral ties and global developments,” adding that the two sides discussed advancing cooperation in economic, technology, defence, mining, people-to-people and multilateral areas, and that he appreciated Poland’s support for stronger India–EU ties, reported ANI.

Welcoming Sikorski and his delegation to India, Jaishankar said the talks were taking place at a time of “considerable churn” globally, underlining the importance of exchanging perspectives between two countries located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities. While noting that India–Poland relations have progressed steadily, he said they nevertheless “need constant tending”.Recalling the trajectory of ties, Jaishankar said India and Poland have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations, marked in recent years by higher political engagement alongside expanding economic and people-to-people exchanges. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024, during which the relationship was elevated to the level of a strategic partnership.Outlining the way forward, Jaishankar said the two sides would review the Action Plan 2024–28, aimed at realising the full potential of the strategic partnership. He said cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies and digital innovation would be key focus areas.Emphasising the business dimension, Jaishankar said Poland is among India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade at about $7 billion, registering growth of nearly 200% over the past decade. Indian investment in Poland has crossed $3 billion, creating employment opportunities, while India’s strong growth, market size and pro-investment policies offer significant opportunities for Polish businesses.On broader geopolitical issues, Jaishankar said the two sides would exchange views on regional and global developments, including developments in their respective neighbourhoods. Referring to earlier discussions on the Ukraine conflict, he reiterated India’s position against what he described as “unfair and unjustified selective targeting”.He also urged Poland to display zero tolerance for terrorism, noting Sikorski’s familiarity with the region and its long-standing challenge of cross-border terrorism.Responding, Sikorski thanked India for the invitation and said this was his first visit since the two countries’ prime ministers announced the strategic partnership. Describing India and Poland as dynamic countries in their respective regions, he said both sides should explore new opportunities for cooperation. He agreed with Jaishankar on the need to counter transnational terrorism and echoed concerns over selective targeting through tariffs, warning of the risk of wider global trade turbulence.Sikorski also noted India’s expanding diplomatic footprint across Europe as a signal of serious engagement with the European Union, and said he hoped the Polish Prime Minister would visit India soon.