Sikorski, who is also a deputy prime minister, headed to India for a visit running through January 20, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw before his departure, Sikorski said the trip marked his first visit to India since 2011 and the first by a Polish foreign minister since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2024.
“I will be encouraging closer cooperation in the areas of security and defence, as well as industrial partnerships,” Sikorski said.
He said his talks in India would focus on the security situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, noting that Poland and India hold different views on the war in Ukraine.
“India and Poland see the war in Ukraine differently, so I will be presenting it from the Polish and European point of view,” Sikorski said.
He added that India’s historical experience with colonialism and neocolonialism could provide a basis for dialogue on the issue, including during meetings with Indian media.
Sikorski described both Poland and India as fast-developing democratic countries and praised India’s global reputation for creating effective digital solutions.
During the visit, Sikorski is expected to meet with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and officials in the western state of Rajasthan.
He will also attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, one of the world’s largest literary events.
Asked about challenges posed by India’s ties with Russia, Sikorski said it was difficult for New Delhi to quickly distance itself from a country that has long supplied it with military equipment.
He noted, however, that India has already reduced imports of Russian oil, limiting funds that support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I understand that for some time India benefited from discounted oil prices, but that discount is shrinking, and that is a good thing,” he said.
Sikorski also pointed to Poland’s economic presence in India, noting that Polish companies are major producers of aluminum beverage cans and glass packaging on the Indian market.
He highlighted India’s population of around 1.5 billion, roughly three times that of the European Union.
In a statement released late on Friday, Poland’s foreign ministry said Warsaw views India as a strategic partner for diversifying trade, investment and technology ties, describing the country as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
The ministry said discussions would focus on key areas of economic cooperation, including mining, information technology, modern supply chains, defence production and defence cooperation.
Sikorski is also expected to present Poland’s assessment of Europe’s security situation during accompanying meetings.
Regional and international issues, including security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, Russia’s war against Ukraine and challenges to the international rules-based order, will also be on the agenda, the ministry said.
The visit follows meetings between the two foreign ministers last year and talks earlier this month in Paris involving India and the Weimar Triangle countries of Poland, France and Germany.
The ministry said the trip reflects intensified Polish-Indian cooperation since the relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in 2024, and aims to translate that partnership into concrete economic, technological and security projects.
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Source: IAR, PAP