PM Modi Arrives in Poland, First Indian PM Visit in 45 Years

Warsaw: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Poland, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years. PM Modi landed in Warsaw this evening as part of his two-nation tour, which will also take him to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations. pic.twitter.com/KniZnr4x8g

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024

The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979. Upon his arrival, PM Modi was given a ceremonial welcome in Warsaw. He is scheduled to meet President Andrzej Duda and hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

During his visit, PM Modi will pay respects at memorials in Warsaw honouring the over 6,000 Polish women and children who found refuge in Jamnagar and Kolhapur during World War II. He is also set to address the Indian community in Poland, which numbers around 25,000, as well as engage with Polish business leaders and Indologists.

PM Modi has met with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, on four prior occasions when Tusk served as President of the European Council. In March 2022, PM Modi thanked President Duda over the phone for Poland’s assistance in evacuating over 4,000 Indian students from Ukraine and for easing visa requirements during the crisis.

“My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe,” PM Modi stated before his departure.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit Kyiv on August 23 for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.