External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, 4 September said that India and Poland are well-placed to jointly shape the direction of critical global debates, citing shared democratic values, market economies, and a tradition of multilateral cooperation. Speaking at a joint press interaction with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Warsaw following bilateral talks, Jaishankar stressed the urgency of ending ongoing conflicts and addressing global supply chain stress.

Ukraine Conflict: India Pushes for Dialogue

Jaishankar placed the war in Ukraine — now in its fifth year — at the centre of the bilateral agenda. He noted that he had arrived in Warsaw directly from Kyiv, underscoring India's active diplomatic engagement on the conflict. “India believes that endless wars must give way to an end to war. These are wars without winners. Every additional day means more deaths, more destruction, more loss to the parties themselves and more cost to the rest of the world,” he said.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently voiced this concern publicly, and that India's approach is grounded in promoting dialogue and diplomacy. “We must each do what we can in whichever way we believe will be most effective and support the efforts of others to bring this conflict to an end. This is India’s strong conviction and we are acting on it,” Jaishankar said.

West Asia, Indo-Pacific, and the Multipolarity Shift

The two ministers also reviewed developments in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Jaishankar described the talks as “productive from all angles.” He noted that the world is simultaneously grappling with multiple armed conflicts and acute challenges around food, fuel, and fertiliser availability — with supply chain resilience adding an independent layer of concern.

On the broader geopolitical canvas, Jaishankar pointed to the global shift toward multipolarity, with India viewing the European Union as an important partner in the restructuring underway. “We are confident that Poland’s voice and Poland’s influence within the EU will encourage this trend,” he said.

Bilateral Ties: From Strategic Partnership to Action

India and Poland elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2024. On Friday, both sides reviewed the Action Plan agreed upon during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Poland two years ago. Jaishankar said the progress report was “a very solid one,” pointing to an uptick in trade and investments, deeper defence collaboration, and expansion in traditional sectors such as mining and energy.

Emerging areas of cooperation include space, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Active work is also under way on agreements covering cyber security, space, clean coal, classified information exchange, and critical minerals. Recent institutional engagements included Foreign Office Consultations and a meeting of the Joint Commission, along with activity in the defence working group.

India-Poland at the UN and Multilateral Forums

Jaishankar highlighted the two countries’ long-standing tradition of working closely at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms as a key expression of their convergence. As political democracies, market economies, and open societies, he argued, India and Poland share both the values and the standing to influence global norm-setting — from climate and trade to security architecture.

With Poland holding growing influence within the EU and India asserting a more active global role, the Warsaw meeting signals a deliberate effort to convert shared values into coordinated diplomatic weight on issues that extend well beyond bilateral trade.