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Türkiye’s Ambassador to Poland Rauf Alp Denktas said Poland holds great significance for Türkiye’s partnerships within the European Union, highlighting ongoing efforts to expand cooperation across multiple fields, including defense, economy, tourism, and education.
Speaking at the Turkish Embassy in Warsaw, Denktas emphasized the historic depth of Türkiye–Poland relations, recalling that Poland was the first European country to recognize the Republic of Türkiye.
Denktas noted that defense and security remain central to the bilateral agenda, underlining that Türkiye and Poland possess the two largest land armies in NATO within Europe. “The cooperation between these two countries is crucial not only for the defense of our homelands but also for the European security architecture,” he said.
He pointed out that Türkiye strongly supported Poland’s NATO membership in 1999 and that Poland continues to be among the strongest supporters of Türkiye’s EU accession process. “In 2009, our President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) and Prime Minister (Donald) Tusk signed a declaration elevating our relations to a strategic partnership, and since then, our cooperation has gained significant momentum,” he added.
Referring to the growing defense industry ties, Denktas recalled that Poland was the first EU country to purchase Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB2 drones, saying this was “no coincidence.” He added that the two countries are now working to diversify cooperation in defense technology.
“Poland is currently one of the NATO countries allocating the largest share of its budget to defense. With our advanced technology and proven systems, Türkiye can make significant contributions,” he said, adding that companies such as Aselsan and MKE are already engaged in projects with Poland.
“We are not only focusing on today’s trade but also on building partnerships of medium and long-term importance,” Denktas said.
The ambassador underlined the strong economic ties between the two countries, noting that Türkiye is the world’s 17th-largest economy and Poland the 20th.
“Our trade volume surpassed €12 billion last year. During the meeting in Ankara this March, our President and Prime Minister Tusk set a new target of $15 billion. We are aware of the steps needed to reach this goal and continue to work toward it,” he said.
Denktas said there are around 5,000 Turkish students studying in Poland, making Turks the third-largest group among foreign students in the country. “Polish universities, particularly state ones, provide high-quality education at reasonable costs. This is both a source of income for the Polish economy and an opportunity for our youth,” he noted.
He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Polish authorities regarding visa and residence permit challenges faced by Turkish students. “Our main priority is to prevent our youth from being negatively affected. While some steps have been taken, there are still issues to be resolved,” he said.
Highlighting Türkiye’s position as a major global tourism destination, Denktas said, “Last year, Türkiye hosted over 50 million foreign tourists and generated more than $60 billion in tourism revenue.”
He added that the number of tourists from Poland exceeded 1.8 million in 2024. “We expect this figure to reach 2 million soon, and we are working to diversify tourism cooperation further,” he said.
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