El comercio y la defensa serán el foco de la visita del Primer Ministro polaco a la India a partir del 21 de octubre

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a three-day visit that places defense cooperation, trade expansion, and the ongoing war in Ukraine at the center of diplomatic discussions. Tusk is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, October 22, marking the first visit to India by a Polish prime minister in sixteen years. The itinerary extends through Saturday, October 24, though the primary high-level engagements occur on Thursday and Friday. The visit aims to bolster cooperation in trade, investment, defense, space, and technology ahead of the anticipated signing of the India-European Union free trade agreement. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated on Monday that the summit will serve to review bilateral relations and address regional and global issues. Officials noted that the meeting will further strengthen the strategic partnership established during Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024, which was the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 45 years. This is Tusk’s second visit to India as prime minister, having previously served in the role during a tenure that ended before 2010. He also visited New Delhi in 2017 while serving as president of the European Council for the India-EU Summit. Accompanying Tusk is Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski and a large business delegation representing approximately 100 companies eager to broaden commercial ties with India. Defense collaboration represents a pivotal element of the agenda. Domanski told reporters that the Polish defense industry is actively seeking partners and capable of supplying high-value equipment to India. He highlighted that Poland currently spends nearly five percent of its gross domestic product on modernizing its defense forces, driven by the need to counter the military threat posed by neighboring Russia. Domanski cited the WB Group, a manufacturer of advanced defense equipment for Poland and Ukraine, as an example of potential collaborative success. He emphasized that close cooperation between defense industries helps build mutual trust. Polish officials described building trust with India as a major challenge, noting that historically, India was viewed as close to the Soviet Union and its successor state, Russia. Poland’s own history under Soviet-era communist rule fostered deep distrust toward Moscow. Consequently, the two nations are working to insulate their ties from Russian influence. Sources indicated that the leaders may sign a confidentiality agreement regarding classified information. A joint working group on defense met in Warsaw in September to finalize agreements addressing concerns about technology leakage to Russia and ensuring scrutiny of dual-use items. Beyond security, economic growth and energy transition form the backbone of the negotiations. Domanski characterized Poland as the fastest-growing large European economy, with GDP growth projected at 3.6 percent for the current year. He noted that Poland’s contribution to the overall European Union GDP is expected to exceed that of larger economies like Germany and France this year. Domanski expressed optimism about maintaining a growth pace above three percent in subsequent quarters and years. He identified Poland as the largest field for clean energy transition in Europe, planning to develop both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors. These projects require significant funding, leading Poland to seek foreign equity investments, including from India. Domanski stated that the government is open to partnerships in clean energy, agriculture, mining, and heavy industries. He specifically mentioned interest in collaborating on green hydrogen, ammonia production, and the recycling of lithium-ion electric batteries. Bilateral trade, currently valued at approximately six billion dollars, is targeted for doubling. Poland stands as India’s largest trade partner in Central Europe. Both governments view the upcoming India-EU Free Trade Agreement, expected to be signed in December, as a catalyst for expanding commerce. While the agreement is slated to take effect sometime in 2027, officials from both sides aim to explore immediate collaborations benefiting from lowered tariffs, particularly in food processing and apple supplies. However, dairy and meat products, which constitute roughly a quarter of Poland’s agricultural exports, remain excluded from the agreement. The war in Ukraine is expected to feature prominently in the discussions. As a key supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, Poland’s stance influences the geopolitical landscape. Modi and Tusk are likely to discuss recent Indian initiatives to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow. These efforts include conveying messages regarding Black Sea grain exports and the safety of mariners who have faced attacks during the war. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who visited Warsaw in September, stated that the conflict will not end simply because nations choose or refuse to purchase oil, aluminum, fertilizers, or metals. He argued that resolution requires diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiation. During that September visit, Jaishankar outlined ongoing work in cybersecurity, space cooperation between state agencies, information technology, critical minerals, and renewable energy. Tusk’s schedule includes a trip to Bengaluru on Friday, October 23, where he plans to engage with stakeholders in the information technology and space sectors. An India-Poland Business Forum will be held in New Delhi on Thursday and in Bengaluru on Friday. The business delegation participating in these forums includes representatives from numerous defense firms and renewable energy technology companies. These entities are seeking to invest in Indian projects aimed at boosting green transformation. Looking ahead, the two leaders are expected to meet again later in the year. Poland has been invited as a special guest by United States President Donald Trump to attend the G-20 Summit in Florida in December. Additionally, the India-EU Summit is scheduled for December 16 in Brussels, where Modi is expected to travel to sign the free trade agreement. The current visit thus serves as a preparatory step for these broader multilateral engagements, aiming to solidify specific bilateral commitments in technology, security, and commerce before the higher-profile summits commence.