This week in CricketInFocus News Network’s special program Shaurya Path, we wanted to know from Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) what is the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland and Ukraine? In response to this, he said that both these visits were very important. He said that the way the Prime Minister was welcomed in Poland and the warmth shown by both the countries to take bilateral relations forward is unprecedented. He said that Poland was the only country left in Europe whose relations with India were not strong, whereas the relations between the two countries have a very old history. He said that the situation is expected to change after Modi’s visit. He said that the bilateral agreements between the two countries are also showing that a new form of India-Poland relations will emerge in the coming days.
Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that the interest shown by Indian and Polish companies to invest in each other’s country will also strengthen business relations. He said that in today’s world, business relations have become the basis of strengthening relations between the two countries. He said that India and Poland upgraded their relations to the level of “Strategic Partnership” and signed a Social Security Agreement to promote movement of skilled workers after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. He said that in the meeting both sides expressed resolve to significantly expand bilateral defence and security relations. Tusk also expressed Warsaw’s desire to become a major partner in New Delhi’s efforts to boost domestic defence production and modernize its armed forces.
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Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said this is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in nearly half a century. He said the Prime Minister also held talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda. He said following the Modi-Tusk talks, the two sides unveiled a five-year “Action Plan” (2024-2028) for India-Poland Strategic Partnership, identifying several areas for cooperation, including defence, trade, agri-tech, energy, green technology, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining. He said the Joint Statement stated that the two sides acknowledged the need to strengthen and deepen cooperation in the defence sector. To this end, they agreed to make full use of existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation. He said the two Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of connectivity and welcomed the launch of direct flight services between the two countries. He said the joint statement said the two leaders emphasised that, as the world’s two largest democracies, the EU and India have a shared interest in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development in a multipolar world.
Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that Prime Minister Modi also shared views with a group of experts on Indian culture and appreciated their work on Indian culture, language and art as well as their efforts to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. He said that as far as Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine is concerned, it was also historic. He said that many countries including the US and the United Nations have also welcomed this visit of the Prime Minister. He said that during the historic visit to the war-torn country Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India strongly believes that no problem is solved on the battlefield. He said that Prime Minister Modi has said that India will play a continuous role in peace efforts. He also advised Russia and Ukraine to hold talks without losing time. He said that during his visit to Russia, Prime Minister Modi had given similar advice to the Russian President. He said that many peace conferences have been held so far to stop the war between the two countries but not a single peace dialogue has taken place between Russia and Ukraine till now, therefore it is hoped that on the advice of Modi both the countries will come to the negotiating table and in this way a big contribution from India towards global peace will be recorded in the pages of history.
