India and Poland can deepen strategic cooperation as EAM S Jaishankar highlights global conflicts, Ukraine war, food, fuel and fertiliser challenges, multipolarity, EU ties, defence, trade, technology and emerging opportunities during talks in Warsaw.
India and Poland can work together to influence the direction of several important global debates amid growing geopolitical uncertainties, ongoing wars and challenges related to food, fuel and fertiliser availability, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.
Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing the media jointly with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Warsaw following their bilateral talks. The discussions covered a broad range of global and regional issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the situation in West Asia, developments in the Indo-Pacific and the changing global geopolitical landscape.
The External Affairs Minister said the Ukraine conflict, now in its fifth year, remained a major concern for the international community. He stressed that India believes prolonged wars must eventually give way to peace and that dialogue and diplomacy should remain central to efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
Jaishankar said every additional day of war results in more deaths, destruction and economic costs, not only for the parties directly involved but also for the wider international community. He underlined India’s position that countries should contribute to diplomatic efforts in whatever way they consider effective.
The minister also highlighted the wider challenges facing the global economy. Apart from multiple conflicts, countries are dealing with concerns over the availability and security of food, fuel and fertilisers. Supply chain resilience has also emerged as a significant concern amid geopolitical disruptions.
According to Jaishankar, India and Poland have several areas of convergence as political democracies, market economies and open societies. Their cooperation, he said, could contribute to shaping important global discussions. He also pointed to the two countries’ history of working together through the United Nations and other multilateral forums.
The External Affairs Minister said the world was moving towards greater multipolarity as countries sought to reduce risks and diversify their economic and strategic partnerships. In this changing environment, he described the growing relationship between India and the European Union as an important element of the ongoing global restructuring.
Jaishankar also emphasised Poland’s role within the European Union, expressing confidence that Warsaw’s voice and influence in the bloc would contribute positively to strengthening India’s engagement with the EU.
The talks also reviewed progress under the Action Plan agreed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland. Jaishankar said the assessment of the plan showed significant progress, including increased trade and investment, deeper defence cooperation and expansion in established areas such as mining and energy.
He added that new opportunities were emerging in sectors including space, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and innovation. Both countries are also working on agreements covering areas such as cybersecurity, space, clean coal, classified information and critical minerals.
Jaishankar noted that institutional mechanisms between India and Poland had also strengthened. Foreign Office Consultations were held recently, while the Joint Commission and defence working group have contributed to closer engagement across various sectors.
| Also Read: Belgium PM says India-EU FTA shields economies from trade barriers |
India and Poland have maintained cordial relations for decades, with their partnership elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2024. Jaishankar said the regular interaction between political leaders and institutional mechanisms demonstrated the growing closeness between the two countries.
The discussions in Warsaw therefore reflected India’s broader effort to strengthen partnerships with European countries while addressing major international challenges through dialogue, cooperation and multilateral engagement.
