New Delhi, July 15: Poland’s Secretary of State and Deputy Foreign Minister, Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, calling him an “extremely capable and remarkable” global leader. He noted that under Modi’s leadership, India has witnessed significant transformation.
In a conversation held in New Delhi, Bartoszewski stated, “He is undoubtedly one of the world’s great leaders. He is highly competent and a very successful leader. India has made remarkable progress under his guidance. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with him. He is a very pragmatic and forward-thinking leader. He is transforming India. Therefore, when he says that by 2047 India will become the third-largest economy in the world, I have complete faith in that.”
Bartoszewski emphasized India’s non-aligned stance, highlighting its strong relationships with both Poland and Western nations, as well as its longstanding ties with Russia, reminiscent of the Soviet era.
He remarked, “Considering India’s significance and Prime Minister Modi’s role in global politics, I believe he appealed to President Vladimir Putin for restraint some years ago.”
He added, “President Putin pays attention to Prime Minister Modi’s words. Modi is among the very few leaders who can exert some pressure on Putin. I believe India can play a crucial role in halting the Ukraine conflict.”
Bartoszewski affirmed Poland’s full support for India regarding the issue of freedom of navigation in the seas. He stated, “Like India, we are fully committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in the seas. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ensures the free passage of vessels. We are concerned about the potential closure of the Hormuz Strait. If such an event occurs and tolls are imposed for passage, it could eventually affect the Malacca Strait, which is a route for nearly 50 percent of global trade. In this matter, we stand firmly with India and aim to ensure that maritime trade continues uninterrupted, as it is vital for our economic security and prosperity, with India playing a significant role.”
He also mentioned that in light of current geopolitical conditions, Poland seeks to enhance cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region, with India being one of its key partners.
Bartoszewski concluded, “We want to collaborate with India in the field of underwater infrastructure. We have faced issues with underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. There have also been attempts to damage cables laid between Poland and Sweden. To address such incidents, especially when they occur outside a country’s maritime boundaries, we want to learn from India’s experience and share our own.”
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