'Beacon of hope': Polish PM Tusk hails ties with India, calls PM Modi a 'friend'

NEW DELHI: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “beacon of hope” amid global uncertainty and said he was proud to call him a friend, while highlighting the absence of conflicts of interest between India and Poland as the two countries seek to strengthen their strategic partnership.Addressing a joint press conference with PM Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Tusk said the two countries had held fruitful discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation and building on the strategic partnership established during Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024.“We had a fruitful discussion with Prime Minister Modi about how Poland and India can develop and strengthen their strategic partnership.

The decision to establish this partnership was made jointly during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Warsaw in August 2024,” Tusk said.

“The synergies between Poland and India are quite clear. We have no conflicts of interest and no historical issues that divide us. We are building our friendship on the basis of trust, shared values, and ideas such as non-violence,” he added.Tusk also drew a parallel between Poland’s Solidarity movement and India’s tradition of non-violence, saying the Polish movement had been inspired by such principles.

Praising PM Modi’s role on the global stage, the Polish prime minister said India’s leadership offered hope at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and instability.“Someone like you, Prime Minister, leading a country as powerful as India, is a beacon of hope for all of us. I am very proud, truly proud, to be able to call myself your friend, Mr. Prime Minister,” Tusk said.

He also pointed to the economic progress made by both countries over the past 35 years.“Over the past 35 years, both our countries have experienced unprecedented economic success and dynamic growth. Let me put it straightforwardly, without any doubts or hesitation: the world looks upon us with envy, at how India is developing and at Poland’s development,” he said.

PM Modi highlights opportunities from India-EU trade pact

PM Modi said the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) had expanded opportunities for economic cooperation between India and Poland, building on the momentum in bilateral relations over the past two years.“Our growing economic strength has created new opportunities for the India-Poland partnership. And the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement has made these opportunities even broader,” PM Modi said.The two leaders witnessed the exchange of key memoranda of understanding before addressing the joint press conference.

Welcoming Tusk, PM Modi recalled his visit to Poland in 2024, when the two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.“During that visit, we elevated our relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership. Building on this strong foundation, our partnership has gained new momentum over the past two years,” Modi said.He also highlighted the historical ties between the two countries, describing their friendship as rooted in shared humanity and empathy rather than diplomatic relations alone.“The friendship between India and Poland is not based merely on diplomatic relations, but on the shared heritage of humanity and empathy,” Modi said.Recalling the assistance extended to Polish families during the Second World War, PM Modi said the royal families of Jamnagar and Kolhapur had provided shelter to thousands of Polish children and families in India.

The prime minister also said the two sides had agreed to strengthen cooperation in culture, education, sports and tourism. He added that they had discussed regional and global developments, democratic values and the need to reform global governance institutions.“Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, India will continue to support every meaningful effort towards peace,” PM Modi said.

Trade, defence and technology on agenda

Tusk arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for an official visit from October 21 to 23, at PM Modi’s invitation. He is accompanied by Poland’s minister of finance and economy Andrzej Domanski and a business delegation.The two prime ministers held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House to review bilateral relations and explore cooperation across trade, defence, technology, space and other areas.India’s delegation included external affairs minister S Jaishankar, national security adviser Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Vikram Misri.Earlier on Thursday, Tusk paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, laying a wreath at the memorial. Jaishankar also called on the Polish prime minister to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to call on Prime Minister Donald Tusk @donaldtuskof Poland.

Appreciated his sharing thoughts on deepening India - Poland cooperation across a wide range of domains.”During his visit, Tusk is scheduled to attend the India-Poland Business Forum in New Delhi before travelling to Bengaluru on October 23 for engagements with leaders from India’s information technology and space sectors.

Former Polish ambassador to India Adam Burakowski has said both countries aim to increase annual bilateral trade from approximately $6 billion to $10 billion.He has also identified defence and space technology as key areas for cooperation and pointed to the India-EU trade agreement as an opportunity to expand economic engagement.Tusk’s visit marks the first visit by a Polish prime minister to India since 2010. The two countries established their strategic partnership during PM Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024.