Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland on 21 August 2024 stands out as a significant event in India's foreign policy. It demonstrates India's commitment to forge stronger ties with Europe. This will be the first visit to Poland by an Indian Prime Minister since Morarji Desai in 1979, with both Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi having visited the country prior to that. It also comes at a significant time as the two countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties.
Indo-Polish relations date back much before Indian independence. During World War II, thousands of Polish people, including children, were evacuated to nearby Indian cities such as Jamnagar, Kolhapur and Balachadi. Over the years, economic ties between India and Poland have strengthened. In the 1970s and 1980s, Poland played a key role in the development of Indian industry, especially mining and heavy manufacturing. Collaborating on new technologies and setting up businesses together was at the heart of this relationship. Poland shared its vast experience in coal mining know-how with India.
Culturally, India-Poland exchanges are rich and diverse. The writings of Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had a profound impact on the Polish intelligentsia; one of his famous Polish translations, the play “The Post Office”, is particularly noteworthy. Indian film, literature and art have been well received in Poland, fostering deep cultural ties. Similarly, Poland's rich history, literature and music have inspired Indian artists and scholars.
PM Modi's trip began with a visit to Jam Saheb Memorial in Nawanagar, Warsaw, followed by a visit to the Kolhapur Memorial where he paid tribute to his immense contribution. Later in the day, during an interaction with the diaspora community, the Prime Minister highlighted the support provided by Poland during the Gujarat earthquake two decades ago and during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, testifying to the strength of ties between New Delhi and Warsaw.
India and Poland have identified several key areas of cooperation including trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, and culture. Trade between the two countries has been growing steadily and both countries see the potential to expand economic partnership. According to figures cited by the Indian Embassy, total bilateral trade is set to grow from $1.95 billion to $5.72 billion between 2013 and 2023, with Indian exports accounting for the bulk of the volume. Indian companies are investing in Polish manufacturing and Polish companies are seeing opportunities in India's IT and pharmaceutical industries.
To enhance trade and investment, the two sides agreed to explore further cooperation in the fields of high technology, agriculture, food technology, climate and energy, defence and healthcare. They also agreed to work together and make full use of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) to achieve the desired goal by the end of next year.
PM Modi met with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, where the two leaders acknowledged their long-standing ties and stressed that as the world's two largest democracies, the EU and India have a common interest in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development in a “multipolar world”. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-EU strategic partnership, which will not only benefit both sides but also have far-reaching positive impacts internationally. In unison, the two leaders agreed to develop and implement a five-year action plan for advancing the bilateral partnership from 2024 to 2028.
Speaking at the same forum, the two leaders expressed deep concern over the escalating war in Ukraine and its horrific and dire humanitarian impact, with Prime Minister Modi reiterating that “India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield.”
One of the important topics discussed in the discussions between the two leaders was “terrorism.” Both sides emphasized the need to ensure the implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, and to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
Outreach to Eastern and Central Europe?
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland, followed by his visit to Ukraine a few days later, reveals the core of India's geopolitical maneuverings. India's aggressive neighbour, China, is trying to chart its own course in the subcontinent. In May this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited two Eastern European countries, Serbia and Hungary, and France in the west. Scholars and experts argued that this move by China is a breakaway to Europe to consolidate China's foothold in the region, giving India a key point from which to work towards building ties with countries in the region.
PM Modi's visit to Denmark in 2022, talks with Nordic countries, followed by a visit to Greece in 2023 and last month's visit to Austria, demonstrate India's growing interest in different parts of Europe, which so far has focused mainly on countries like Russia, France, Germany and the UK. Diversifying relations will help India maintain economic and security ties while maintaining ties with other powers such as China and Russia.
In terms of trade, the region's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia provides India with access to a market of over 100 million people, resulting in steady growth in Indian trade and investment in the region.
In summary, India sees Poland as more than a key partner in Central Europe. India sees Poland as a gateway to deeper ties with the EU and the Transatlantic Community. The world is currently facing major challenges, from inter-state conflicts to climate change. In this context, the India-Poland partnership shows how diplomacy, cooperation and mutual respect can help forge a brighter future. Similarly, as geopolitics continues to shift, India's outreach to various European countries looks promising and there is nothing for India to lose but rather it can be a stepping stone for future cooperation.
