Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki to Visit the UK on Key Two-Day Working Trip

Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki is set to arrive in the United Kingdom on 12 January for a two-day working visit focused on security, defence cooperation and political dialogue at the highest level. The visit comes at a moment of heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe and beyond, with the war in Ukraine and wider global instability shaping discussions between allies.

The visit will begin on Monday evening in London with a meeting between President Nawrocki and representatives of the Polish diaspora. The Polish community in the UK is estimated at around 700,000 people, making it one of the largest Polish populations outside the country. During the meeting, the president will present Polish state decorations to members of the community in recognition of their contribution to social, cultural and public life. The event will underline the importance of the Polish diaspora in strengthening ties between Poland and the United Kingdom.

According to the official press programme, the meeting with the Polish community will take place on Monday evening at the National Army Museum in London. President Nawrocki is expected to deliver a speech addressing the challenges faced by Poles living abroad and the role of the diaspora in Poland’s relations with the UK.

On Tuesday, the visit will move to its political core. President Nawrocki will be officially welcomed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing Street. This will be followed by a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in the White Room, before extended talks involving both delegations take place in the Terracotta Room. After the meetings, President Nawrocki will deliver a statement to Polish media outside Downing Street.

Later on Tuesday, the Polish president will lay a wreath at the Polish Air Force Memorial, paying tribute to Polish pilots who fought alongside the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The ceremony will serve as a reminder of the long history of military cooperation between Poland and the United Kingdom.

While the details of the private talks between President Nawrocki and Prime Minister Starmer have not been officially disclosed, defence and security issues are expected to dominate the agenda. Both Poland and the UK are part of a coalition of countries supporting Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing invasion. The UK has committed significant military and non-military aid to Kyiv, while Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key regional allies and a crucial logistical hub.

Military cooperation between the two countries has intensified in recent years. British Royal Air Force jets have carried out NATO air policing missions over Poland, responding to security incidents involving Russian drone activity near NATO borders. Since February 2022, British troops have also been stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank.

The visit also takes place against a wider global backdrop of instability, including ongoing conflict in Ukraine, unrest in the Middle East and political tensions in several regions worldwide. At the same time, Prime Minister Starmer is facing domestic political pressure in the UK, adding further context to the importance of maintaining strong international alliances.

President Nawrocki’s visit is expected to reaffirm the strategic partnership between Poland and the United Kingdom and highlight their shared commitment to European security, NATO cooperation and transatlantic stability.

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