Poland's Secretary of State and Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski on Tuesday, 14 July praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an 'extremely competent and accomplished' global leader, saying India has transformed phenomenally under his stewardship. The remarks were made in New Delhi during Bartoszewski's visit, underscoring the deepening diplomatic ties between Poland and India.

High Praise from Warsaw

'He's a major global leader; there's no question about that. I mean, he's extremely competent, extremely accomplished. India has changed phenomenally under his leadership,' Bartoszewski said. 'I have had the honour of meeting him and talking to him. He's extremely charismatic, very pragmatic, forward-looking, and he's changing India.'

The Polish diplomat added that when he hears Modi assert that India will be the third-largest economy in the world by 2047, he finds it entirely credible. The statement reflects a growing Western recognition of India's economic trajectory and the personal stature Modi commands in international forums.

Modi's Influence on Putin and the Ukraine Conflict

Bartoszewski highlighted what he described as Modi's unique leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that India's non-aligned posture gives it diplomatic reach that few others possess. 'President Putin actually pays attention to what Prime Minister Modi tells him. Prime Minister Modi is one of the few people who actually can exert some pressure and influence on President Putin, and that is clearly something India could do to stop this conflict,' he said, referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He acknowledged that Modi had previously urged Putin to show restraint, positioning India as a potential back-channel interlocutor in one of the world's most intractable conflicts. This comes amid repeated Western efforts to find credible intermediaries capable of engaging Moscow directly.

Freedom of Seas and Indo-Pacific Cooperation

On maritime security, Bartoszewski said Poland stands firmly alongside India in upholding freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He expressed particular concern over the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that restrictions in one chokepoint could cascade to others such as the Strait of Malacca, which accounts for roughly 50 per cent of global trade passing through it.

'We are completely on the Indian side in this to try to cooperate to make sure that free shipment continues, because that is essential to our economic security and prosperity. India has a role to play,' he said. Notably, Poland's concern over maritime chokepoints reflects broader European Union anxieties about supply-chain vulnerability in an era of heightened geopolitical tension.

Underwater Infrastructure and Digital Security

Bartoszewski also raised the issue of undersea infrastructure protection, disclosing that Poland had faced attempts to sever an underwater electricity cable connecting it to Sweden, alongside disruptions to internet cables in the Baltic Sea. He said Poland is keen to learn from India's experience in handling such threats beyond territorial waters.

'We want to cooperate with India in water infrastructure... we are very keen to exchange experiences and especially learn from India's experience how to deal with such attempts outside the territorial waters,' he said. The disclosure signals that critical undersea infrastructure has emerged as a new frontier of geopolitical vulnerability for both nations.

A Broader Strategic Alignment

The Polish diplomat emphasised that Warsaw is increasingly focused on the Indo-Pacific region, with India seen as a central pillar of that engagement. He described India as a country that has maintained balanced relationships — with Poland and Western nations, while preserving historic ties with Russia dating to the Soviet era — a diplomatic posture that gives New Delhi unusual room to manoeuvre.

As India's global profile continues to rise, remarks such as these from senior European officials suggest a widening consensus on its emerging role as an indispensable partner in both economic and security architecture.