PM Modi's Historic Visit to Ukraine and Poland: Strengthening Bilateral Ties

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Significance of PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine and Poland
• India – Poland Relation in brief
• Key highlights of the PM Modi’s visit to Poland

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Warsaw for the first leg of his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. After visiting Poland on August 21, he will head to Ukraine on August 23. 

This also marks the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Poland in 45 years.

Significance of PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine and Poland

• Efforts to raise Europe’s profile in India’s foreign policy
  • PM Modi's visit to Poland and Ukraine marks India's growing focus on Central Europe in its foreign policy, reflecting an effort to engage more deeply with Europe. 
  • This visit addresses a key gap in India's European policy as Central Europe becomes a focal point in global geopolitics, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 
  • Modi's visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland since 1979 and to Ukraine since its independence, signals India's active interest in the region during a time of significant geopolitical shifts.
  • Experts believe this visit is about setting the terms of a sustainable long-term engagement with Poland and Ukraine, and more broadly Central Europe.
• Poland and Ukraine are bound to emerge as important long-term partners
  • The war in Ukraine stems from the collapse of post-Cold War agreements between Russia and the West in Central and Eastern Europe. 
  • The outcome of this war will shape a new European order, with Poland and Ukraine playing significant roles. 
  • As India strengthens its ties with Europe, Poland and Ukraine are poised to become key long-term partners. 
  • India's engagement with these nations, shortly after the Prime Minister's visit to Russia, highlights Delhi's belief that its relationships with Moscow and Central Europe are not mutually exclusive.
• Diversification of India’s relation in Europe
  • India’s engagement was narrowly based on the relations with Europe’s big four — Russia, Germany, France, and Britain. 
  • Over the last decade, India has sought to widen this outreach to Europe.
    • During his first two terms as PM, Modi travelled 27 times to Europe and received 37 European heads of state and government. 
    • In his first term as foreign minister, S Jaishankar travelled to Europe 29 times and received 36 of his European counterparts in Delhi.
  • India has begun collective diplomacy with many sub-regions of Europe, including the Nordics and Baltics. 
  • Connecting with Central Europe has been part of this plan. Modi’s visit to Austria last month (the first in 41 years) and Poland and Ukraine this week are part of that strategy.
• Weight carried by these nations
  • Ukraine holds the largest territory in Europe after Russia. Poland and Ukraine are seventh and eighth in European population rankings (including Russia). 
  • Poland is the largest economy in Central Europe and ranks eighth in Europe.
    • Rapid economic growth over the last three decades, a large population base (38 million), its location at the heart of Europe, and massive spending (more than 4 per cent of GDP this year) have turned Poland into a force to reckon with.
  • Ukraine’s economy has been shattered by the war, but the prospect of its reconstruction after peace settlement has put it on the geoeconomic drawing boards around the world. 
  • Ukraine, which inherited a significant part of the Soviet arms industry, is now looking to the US and Europe to expand and modernise its defence industry. 
  • Ukraine’s natural strength as one of the world’s granaries adds to its strategic salience in the years ahead.

India – Poland Relation in brief

• Background
  • Diplomatic relations between India and Poland were established in 1954, leading to the opening of the Indian Embassy in Warsaw in 1957 and Polish Embassy in New Delhi in 1954.
  • During WWII, between 1942 and 1948, over 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states in India, Jamnagar and Kolhapur. 
  • Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, provided shelter to over a thousand Polish children in his state. 
  • Many others found refuge in a giant camp in Kolhapur.
• Economic & commercial Relations
  • Poland continues to be India’s largest trading & investment partner in Central & Eastern Europe. 
  • Over the period 2013-2023, the total bilateral trade with Poland has witnessed an increase of 192% i.e. from US$1.95 billion in 2013 to US$5.72 billion in 2023. 
  • The balance of trade continues to be largely in favour of India in 2023.
• Investment
  • Indian investment in Poland has been steadily growing over the years and is now estimated over US$ 3 billion.
  • Total Polish investment in India is estimated at $685 million.
• Sectoral Collaboration
  • Poland possesses reputed clean coal technologies and Polish public sector companies have played a substantial role in development of mining and power sectors in India. 
  • Trainee engineers from M/s Coal India Limited trainee have received training in Polish mines that specialize in intelligent mining.
  • Chemical Industry is one of the major sectors of the Polish economy and Poland is a net importer of chemicals. Chemical products figures in top 5 exports items from India to Poland with organic chemicals taking the lead.
  • Textile continues to be the largest segment in the Indian exports to Poland. Polish imports of textiles and textile articles from India have grown to US$ 645 million in 2023.
• Cultural Relations
  • A monument, commemorating Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar, was unveiled in October, 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Ochota District, Warsaw, Poland. 
  • Another plaque commemorating the Valivade-Kolhapur camp near the Monte Casino War Memorial was inaugurated in November 2017 in Warsaw.

Key highlights of the PM Modi’s visit to Poland

• About the news
  • PM Modi has landed in Warsaw, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since 1979. 
  • This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland and is aimed at revitalizing and elevating bilateral ties to a new level.
• Key highlights
  • PM Modi laid a wreath and paid tribute to The Dobry Maharaja Memorial in Warsaw.
  • He also paid his tributes at the memorials for the Valivade-Kolhapur camp and the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw.
  • PM honoured the brave soldiers who fought in World War II. Indian and Polish troops fought side by side in this historic battle.
  • PM Modi also addressed the Indian Diaspora at an event organised by the Indian community in Warsaw. 

Q.1. What was the significance of PM Modi's visit to Ukraine and Poland?

PM Modi's visit marked a strategic shift in India's foreign policy, focusing on deeper engagement with Central Europe.

Q.2. How did PM Modi's visit impact India-Poland relations?

The visit revitalized India-Poland ties, emphasizing economic, cultural, and diplomatic collaboration.

Source: PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine, Poland: India’s Central European foray | PM India | Embassy of India Poland | Indian Express