New Delhi witnessed a strong show of diplomatic solidarity on Monday as Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. During high-level delegation-level talks, Sikorski openly criticized the practice of using tariffs to selectively target nations like India, without directly naming the United States.
This comes amid escalating tensions following the start of US President Donald Trump’s second term. Washington has been pressuring New Delhi to halt oil purchases from Russia, resorting to tariff threats as leverage. Sikorski’s remarks underscore growing international unease over such unilateral trade tactics.
Prior to the Delhi meeting, Sikorski had attended the Jaipur Literature Festival, where he praised the event as a major global cultural milestone. In his conversation with Jaishankar, he emphasized the shared need to combat transnational and cross-border terrorism. ‘Poland has suffered from both arson attacks and state-sponsored terrorism,’ he noted, aligning with India’s longstanding concerns.
Turning to the tariff issue, Sikorski stated, ‘I fully agree with you on selective targeting through tariffs. We in Europe know this all too well. We’re concerned it could disrupt global trade. We hope India remains engaged with Europe. We’ve seen you opening embassies everywhere, signaling serious commitment to EU ties.’
Jaishankar responded affirmatively, expanding the critique: ‘Selective targeting isn’t limited to tariffs alone. There are other methods, but we’ll discuss those.’ The exchange highlights deepening India-Poland strategic alignment.
Sikorski’s Jaipur appearance, alongside his wife, featured discussions on Europe’s adapting role amid Russia-Ukraine dynamics, Poland’s crisis management, and geopolitical shifts. Drawing from his experience as a journalist and statesman, he delved into political, historical, and humanitarian aspects of change in Europe.
This visit builds on recent momentum. Last month, the 11th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Poland in New Delhi agreed to accelerate cooperation in defense, security, science, technology, cyber security, and AI. The talks were co-chaired by India’s Secretary (West) Siby George and Poland’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs Wladyslaw T. Bartoszewski.
As global trade frictions intensify, Sikorski’s backing offers India a timely boost in navigating pressures from major powers, reinforcing multilateral approaches to economic challenges.