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 Poland |  Turkey |
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| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Poland, Ankara | Embassy of Turkey, Warsaw |
Polish–Turkish relations are the foreign relations betweenPoland andTurkey. Both countries are full members ofNATO,OECD,OSCE, theUnion for the Mediterranean, theCouncil of Europe and theWorld Trade Organisation. Poland is anEUmember and Turkey is anEUcandidate. Poland supports Turkey's accession negotiations to the EU, although negotiations have now been suspended.
History of the diplomatic relations between the two nations dates back to the 15th century when theKingdom of Poland and theOttoman Empire officially established them. Both consideredgreat powers in thelate medieval andearly modern periods, the two nations have experienced periods of intense geopolitical rivalry withseveral wars, as well as long periods of peace with fruitful cooperation, intense trade and some cultural exchange. Poland and Turkey share many similarities in their cultural history and cuisine and generally relations between the two nations are good.
Polish-Turkish relations have been historically close yet complex. Historically, thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had adirect border with theOttoman Empire, both states had a tumultuous history being in open and consistent warfare between one another for centuries, particularly in the southeastern borderlands of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth aroundMoldavia, modern-dayUkraine,Romania andCrimea. Troops from theKingdom of Poland were part of a large European coalition that tried to repel the Ottoman invasion of Europe at theBattle of Nicopolis in 1396. Warfare between both states began in 1443 with theCrusade of Varna. Further wars were fought in1485–1503,1620-1621,1633–1634,1672–1676, and1683–1699, and the Poles and Turks also clashed in theMoldavian Magnate Wars. During the wars, sections of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth fell under the direct administration of the Ottoman Empire under thePodolia Eyalet orSilistra Eyalet for some time. The victory of Polish-led forces at theBattle of Vienna in 1683 marked the end of Ottoman advances into Europe.[1][2]
Diplomatic relations between theOttoman Empire and thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were established in the 15th century.[3] In 1414, Ottoman SultanMehmed I Çelebi received the first Polish diplomatic delegation at his court inBursa, at the time the capital of the Ottoman Empire.[4] In 1489, the Ottoman Sultan allowed Polish merchants to conduct trade in the entire Ottoman Empire.[5]
Turkish support for the PolishBar Confederation againstRussia sparked theRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774. Following thePartitions of Poland, theOttoman Empire was the only major country that did not recognise the final partition of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[3] An anecdote exists recounting the exchange between thechef de protocol and his aide of theOttoman Empire which is widely recounted today in Poland. According to the tale, whenever the diplomatic corps was received by the Ottoman sultan, on the sight of the empty chair of the Polish deputy, the Ottomanchef de protocol would ostentatiously ask:“Where is the deputy from Lehistan?”. On each occasion he would receive the same reply from his aide: ‘Your Excellency, the deputy of Lehistan could not make it because of vital impediments’ to the annoyance of the diplomats from the partitioning states. The first written record of this story comes from the Polish ambassador to Turkey in the years 1936 – 45, Michał Sokolnicki (1880 – 1967). He heard it from a Turkish officer and statesman, Ali Fuat Cebesoy (1880 – 1968), who was acquainted with the Istanbul Polish community. Cebesoy claimed that this symbolic exchange continued until the end of the sultanate and he witnessed it in person as a young officer during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (r. 1876 – 1909)[6]
In the 19th century, many Polish veterans of theNovember Uprising,January Uprising, andCrimean War arrived in Turkey. Polish officers, such asMichał Czajkowski, served in theOttoman Army. Polish GeneralMarian Langiewicz spent the last years of his life in Turkey, fought in the Ottoman Army, and died inIstanbul, where he is buried at theHaydarpaşa Cemetery. Polish national poetAdam Mickiewicz spent the last months of his life in Istanbul and died there.[7] The house where he lived was later transformed into theAdam Mickiewicz Museum. In 1877, thePolish Legion in Turkey was formed and it fought alongside Turks in theRusso-Turkish War of 1877–1878.
The village ofPolonezköy (Adampol), which lies on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, was first settled in 1842 by Polish veterans of the November Uprising. Further Polish settlers arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries. As of 2009, there is still a Polish minority in the village.[3]
The alliance between Poland and Turkey remained strong into the 20th century. Poland was the first country in Europe to recognize theTurkish Republic declared byMustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923.[8]
During the German-Sovietinvasion of Poland, which startedWorld War II in 1939, Turkish authorities agreed to transport evacuated Polish gold through Turkish territory toPolish-alliedFrance[9] and the Polish embassy in Ankara remained operational throughout the war.[8]
In the times of theCold War, Poland and Turkey were part of two enemy military alliances — theWarsaw Pact andNATO respectively. However, after thecollapse of Communism in Eastern Europe, the relations between the two countries were restored in the early 1990s. Poland's accession to NATO in 1999 further bolstered the close relationship.[8] Poland's bid to become a NATO member state was supported by Turkey.[10]
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Although Turkey and Poland enjoy good relations, the relationship between the two countries has occasionally been tense in recent times.[citation needed] Poland was one of the main countries that condemned theTurkish invasion of Cyprus and affirmed its stance for a unitedCyprus. Moreover, in 2005, Poland officiallyrecognized the Armenian genocide, which resulted in strong protests from Turkey and a cancellation of a meeting between a Turkish parliamentary delegation with Polish MPs.[11][12][13]
In 2007, the Polish-Turkish Chamber of Commerce (Polish:Polsko-Turecka Izba Gospodarcza,Turkish:Polonya-Türkiye Ticaret Odasi) was established. Its aim is to support the companies from both countries in mutual collaboration and trade and to strengthen the economic relations between Poland and Turkey. The main headquarters are located inWarsaw while in Turkey the organization has offices inAnkara andIstanbul.[14][15]
Poland has expressed views that Russia is a threat to its national sovereignty and has accused Russia of meddling in foreign affairs in theMiddle East and the former states of theSoviet Union. Thus, Poland has condemned Turkey's attempt of trying to get closer to Russia, such as buying theS-400 missile system as well as Turkey's deteriorating democracy. Nevertheless, Poland has supported Turkey's attempts to join theEuropean Union.[8]
In 2009, the Mutual Declaration On Economic Collaboration was signed by Poland and Turkey. Since the signing of the agreement regualar meetings between Turkish and Polish entrepreneus have been taking place in an effort to support the economic ties between the two nations.[16]
April 18, 2010, the day of thestate funeral of Lech and Maria Kaczyński, was declared a day of national mourning in Turkey to commemorate the 96 victims of theSmolensk air disaster, including Polish PresidentLech Kaczyński and his wifeMaria Kaczyńska.[17]
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Since 2012, Poland, Turkey, andRomania have maintained regular contact within the Trilog format for close cooperation as the three largest countries on the eastern flank ofNATO.[18] Since 2021, a Polish military contingent has been stationed in Turkey as part of a NATO operation to help secure Turkey's borders.[19]
NotableTurks with partialPolish ancestry include the poet and playwrightNâzım Hikmet,Ahmet Rüstem Bey,Fatoş Sezer,Hurrem Sultan, and the soprano opera singerLeyla Gencer.[20]
In 2013, Poland and Turkey celebrated 600 years of diplomatic relations.[21]In October 2017, Polish PresidentAndrzej Duda met with Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan and supportedTurkey's accession to the European Union.[22]Poland and Turkey co-hosted the2019 Women's European Volleyball Championship.[23]
In April 2021, Turkish Foreign MinisterMevlüt Çavuşoğlu described his country's relations with Poland as a "strategic partnership", noting warm historic ties and military cooperation.[24]
In August 2021, Poland sent firefighters to help extinguish the2021 Turkey wildfires.[25]
In October 2021, the head of the Ministry of National DefenceMariusz Błaszczak hostedHulusi Akar, Turkey's Minister of Defence, in Warsaw. Topics discussed during the talks included bilateral military relations and cooperation within NATO as well as technical modernization and military cooperation including the purchase of drones from Turkey.[26]
In November 2021, Polish Prime MinisterMateusz Morawiecki accused Turkey of assistingBelarus and Russia during the2021–2022 Belarus–European Union border crisis.[27] Turkey subsequently temporarily blocked flights to Belarus to ease the crisis[28] and expressed support for the Polish authorities.[29]
In April 2022, Turkey granted visa-free travel to Polish nationals.[30]
In February 2023, Poland sent 178 rescuers and medics to Turkey to help the relief operation after the2023 earthquake,[31][32][33] as well as material aid, including medical equipment, medicines, power generators, field beds, etc.[34] Various Polish charitable organizations, including thePolish Red Cross,Caritas Polska andPolish Humanitarian Action, organized fundraising and material aid for the earthquake victims.[35]
| Official Name | Republic of Poland | Republic of Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Common name |  Poland |  Turkey |
| Coat of Arms/National Emblem |  |  |
| Population | 38,383,000 | 85,279,553 |
| Area | 312,696 km2 (120,733 sq mi) | 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi) |
| Population Density | 123/km2 (318/sq mi) | 111/km2 (287.5/sq mi) |
| Capital | Warsaw | Ankara |
| Largest City | Warsaw – 1,863,056 (3,100,844 Metro)[36][37] | Istanbul – 15,907,951[38] |
| Government | Unitaryparliamentary constitutional republic | Unitarypresidentialconstitutionalrepublic |
| Legislature | Parliament of Poland | Grand National Assembly |
| Official language | Polish (de facto andde jure) | Turkish (de facto andde jure) |
| Current Leader | PresidentAndrzej Duda (2015–present) Prime MinisterDonald Tusk (2023–present) | PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan (2014–present) Vice PresidentCevdet Yılmaz (2023–present) |
| Main religions | 92.9%Christianity, 3.1%non-religious, 1.3% other, 2.7% unstated | 92%Islam, 6%non-religious, 2% other |
| Ethnic groups | 98%Polish, 2% other or unstated[39][40] | 70-75%Turks, 19%Kurds, 6-11% other |
| GDP (PPP) | $1,705 trillion, $45,343per capita | $3,572 trillion, $41,412per capita |
| GDP (nominal) | $748,887 billion, $19,912per capita | $1,029 trillion $11,931per capita |
| Military | Polish Armed Forces | Turkish Armed Forces |
| Military expenditures | $30.70 billion[41] |
Poland also has an honorary consulates inAntalya,Bursa,Gaziantep andİzmir. Turkey also has an honorary consulates inKraków,Łódź,Poznań andWrocław.
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