Polish Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski Delivers Distinguished Lecture at ISSI on “Poland’s Success Story: Lessons for Emerging Countries”
Independent Report
Islamabad, October 23, 2025
The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Distinguished Lecture by His Excellency Radosław Sikorski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, under the theme “Poland’s Success Story: A Message for the Rising Countries.” Organized by ISSI’s Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) in collaboration with the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), the event gathered diplomats, policymakers, academics, think-tank representatives, civil society leaders, and media professionals to discuss Poland’s remarkable economic and political transformation and its relevance for developing nations.
Earlier, ISSI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PISM at the Foreign Office, formalizing a partnership for research collaboration and policy dialogue. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, DG ISSI, and Dr. Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, Director PISM, signed the MoU in the presence of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski.
In his opening remarks, DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood welcomed Deputy PM Sikorski and lauded Poland’s post-Cold War transformation. He described Poland as one of Europe’s most successful models of state-building, combining economic discipline, institutional reform, and strategic foresight. He emphasized that Poland’s trajectory from transition to consolidation offers valuable lessons for developing countries like Pakistan. He highlighted Poland’s success as rooted in strong national purpose, human capital development, and a pragmatic approach harmonizing tradition with innovation.
Ambassador Mahmood also noted Pakistan’s evolving foreign policy, underlining its strategic partnerships with China, the United States, Russia, Japan, the EU, and African nations, as well as strengthened ties in the Middle East. He emphasized Pakistan’s growing role as a Middle Power and a proactive voice of the Global South.
Dr. Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz highlighted the MoU as a milestone in Polish-Pakistani academic cooperation, emphasizing research collaboration, policy dialogue, and people-to-people exchanges. He underscored shared principles including respect for sovereignty, opposition to the use of force, rejection of terrorism, and cooperation within the UN Economic and Social Council, particularly in agriculture, education, energy, and sustainable development.
In his address, DPM/Foreign Minister Sikorski reflected on Poland’s historic transformation from a post-communist economy to a dynamic European state, attributing success to decisive reforms, institutional modernization, and a stable international environment. He cited a threefold increase in GDP per capita since 1989, noting Poland’s balanced social and geographic development. He encouraged medium-sized and emerging states to draw inspiration from Poland’s experience in achieving sustainable growth and international relevance.
DPM Sikorski also discussed global geopolitical challenges, calling for a rules-based international order, grounded in dialogue, sovereignty, and multilateralism. He reaffirmed Poland’s support for Palestinian self-determination and the two-state solution, as well as ongoing support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Highlighting bilateral relations, he noted the over USD 1 billion annual trade between Poland and Pakistan, and the nearly three-decade presence of Polish oil and gas company ORLEN in Pakistan. He emphasized future opportunities in energy, mining, water management, food processing, Fintech, and committed Poland to sharing expertise in renewable energy and sustainable industries.
The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session and presentation of a souvenir by Chairman BoG ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, to Deputy PM Sikorski, marking a milestone in Polish-Pakistani strategic and academic collaboration.
