Full Breakdown
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s India Visit Focuses on Trade, Defence and the Ukraine Conflict
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in New Delhi on October 21, 2026, and will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 22. The three-day visit continues in Bengaluru on October 23, where Tusk will attend India-Poland business forums. The agenda centres on expanding trade, deepening defence cooperation, discussing the war in Ukraine and advancing the India-Poland Strategic Partnership elevated during Modi’s August 2024 visit to Warsaw.
Background & Context
Bilateral trade between India and Poland stands at roughly $6 billion (Ministry of External Affairs, The Hindu) and $6.3 billion (Firstpost). Both governments aim to double this volume, leveraging the pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement slated for signing on December 16, 2026. A Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028, agreed during Modi’s 2024 Warsaw visit, outlines cooperation in trade, investment, defence, renewable energy, space, digital infrastructure and education. Poland’s defence posture, shaped by its eastern border, includes a confidentiality agreement on classified information to guard against technology leakage.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral trade value | $6 billion | The Hindu |
| Bilateral trade value | $6.3 billion (2025) | Firstpost |
| Polish defence spending | ~5 % of GDP | Andrzej Domanski, finance minister |
| Polish GDP growth forecast 2026 | 3.6 % | Indian Express |
| Business delegation size | ~100 companies (?80 Polish) | The Hindu, Firstpost |
Official Statements & Responses
External Affairs Minister S. [Name omitted] reiterated Poland’s willingness to supply “great, and good-value equipment” to India and to seek equity investment in Poland’s clean-energy transition, including nuclear, small-modular reactors and green-hydrogen projects.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We can cooperate closer and serve our bilateral relations… Poland spends close to 5% of our GDP right now to modernise the Polish defence forces. But at the same time, we are really developing our defence industry, and I do believe that we can provide really great, and good value equipment for India,” — Andrzej Domanski, finance minister
- “Glad to call on Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Our conversation focused on the positive trajectory of our Strategic Partnership. Exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, Middle East/West Asia, IMEC and G20,” — EAM Jaishankar, external affairs minister
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total of bilateral trade: The Hindu cites $6 billion, while Firstpost reports $6.3 billion for 2025. No source provides a sector-by-sector breakdown, leaving the composition of trade unclear.
What’s Next
- December 16, 2026 – Signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, expected to lower tariffs for a range of goods.
- December 14-15, 2026 – Poland will attend the G-20 Summit in Florida, where Tusk may discuss Indo-European cooperation.
- Later in 2026 – Tusk and Modi are expected to meet again before year-end to review the Joint Action Plan and explore further defence and clean-energy projects.
The visit underscores Poland’s strategy to diversify trade partners beyond the EU and India’s aim to secure a reliable gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, while both nations seek coordinated diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war.