Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 October 2026 announced that India and Poland have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence, space, and nuclear energy, inviting Polish companies to partner with Indian firms on co-development and co-production across these strategic sectors. The announcement came after Modi's talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Strategic Partnership Gains New Momentum

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Tusk, Modi recalled how the two nations elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during his visit to Warsaw in 2024. He described the past two years as a period of renewed dynamism, noting that several significant decisions were taken at Thursday's meeting to further consolidate the partnership.

'Building on this strong foundation, our partnership has gained new momentum over the past two years. And today, in our meeting with the Prime Minister, we have taken several significant decisions to further strengthen our strategic partnership,' Modi said.

Defence, Space and Nuclear Energy in Focus

Modi underscored that both countries are emerging as important centres of growth, technology, and innovation at a time of global uncertainty. He explicitly called on Polish companies to engage with India in co-development and co-production in defence, space, and nuclear energy — three sectors that sit at the intersection of strategic interest and industrial capability for both nations.

This marks a notable expansion of the bilateral agenda beyond trade and diplomacy, signalling intent to build technology-linked supply chains that could serve third markets as well.

The 'Good Maharaja' — A Shared Humanitarian Legacy

Modi invoked a lesser-known but emotionally resonant chapter in India-Poland relations — the shelter extended to thousands of Polish children and families by the royal families of Jamnagar and Kolhapur during World War II. The ruler of Jamnagar, he noted, is still remembered in Poland as Dobry Maharadza — the 'Good Maharaja' — a symbol of shared humanity that predates formal diplomatic ties by decades.

Trade, the EU-India FTA and Economic Opportunity

Tusk arrived in New Delhi with a large business delegation, and Modi expressed confidence that Indian and Polish companies would work together to build trusted global supply chains and achieve the shared target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Modi highlighted that Poland's GDP crossed the USD 1 trillion mark last year, congratulating Tusk on the milestone, while noting that India recorded GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the last quarter. He said the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, once in force, would open fresh export lanes for machinery, chemicals, plastics, and engineering goods from India to Poland, while attracting Polish investment in railways, mobility, advanced manufacturing, food processing, and biotech.

What Comes Next

The talks signal that the India-Poland Strategic Partnership, formalised in 2024, is moving from a declaratory phase to a transactional one — with co-production frameworks and trade targets now anchoring the relationship. The India-EU FTA timeline will be a key variable in how quickly new sectoral opportunities materialise for both sides.