Wikipedia

Poland–Turkey relations

Polish–Turkish relationsare the foreign relations betweenPolandandTurkey.Both countries are full members ofNATO,OECD,OSCE,theUnion for the Mediterranean,theCouncil of Europeand theWorld Trade Organisation.Poland is a member of theEuropean Union,Turkey is not a member.

Polish-Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Poland and Turkey

Poland
Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Poland, AnkaraEmbassy of Turkey, Warsaw

History of the diplomatic relations between the two nations dates back to the 15th century when theKingdom of Polandand theOttoman Empireofficially established them. Both consideredgreat powersin thelate medievalandearly 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.

History

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Early history

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Polish AmbassadorJan Gnińskiat the court of SultanMehmed IVin 1679

Polish-Turkish relations have been historically close yet complex. Historically, thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealthhad a direct 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 CommonwealtharoundMoldavia,modern-dayUkraine,RomaniaandCrimea.Troops from theKingdom of Polandwere part of a large European coalition that tried to repel the Ottoman invasion of Europe at theBattle of Nicopolisin 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 Commonwealthfell under the direct administration of the Ottoman Empire under thePodolia EyaletorSilistra Eyaletfor some time. The victory of Polish-led forces at theBattle of Viennain 1683 marked the end of Ottoman advances into Europe.[1][2]

Diplomatic relations between theOttoman Empireand thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealthwere established in the 15th century.[3]In 1414, Ottoman SultanMehmed I Çelebireceived 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]

18th and 19th centuries

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Procession of Piotr Potocki, the last envoy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Istanbul in 1790. The Commonwealth ceased to exist with theThird Partition of Polandin 1795. Ottoman Turkey never recognised the Partitions and continued to reserve a seat for the "Envoy of Lehistan" at diplomatic audiences until the reestablishment of the Polish nation afterWorld War I.

Turkish support for the PolishBar ConfederationagainstRussiasparked theRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774.Following thePartitions of Poland,theOttoman Empirewas 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 protocoland his aide of theOttoman Empirewhich 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 protocolwould 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 Wararrived in Turkey. Polish officers, such asMichał Czajkowski,served in theOttoman Army.Polish GeneralMarian Langiewiczspent 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 Mickiewiczspent 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 Turkeywas 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]

20th century

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The alliance between Poland and Turkey remained strong into the 20th century. Poland was the first country in Europe to recognize theTurkish Republicdeclared byMustafa Kemal Atatürkin 1923.[8]

During the German-Sovietinvasion of Poland,which startedWorld War IIin 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 PactandNATOrespectively. 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]

Recent relations

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Turkish mosaic depicting Warsaw and Istanbul can be found at thePolitechnika metro station.It was installed in 2015, to commemorate 600 years of Poland–Turkey relations.

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 Cyprusand 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 inWarsawwhile in Turkey the organizations has offices inAnkaraandIstanbul.[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 Eastand 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 systemas 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 Kaczyńskiand his wifeMaria Kaczyńska.[17]

Recep Tayyip Erdoğanduring his visit to Poland in 2009 withBogdan Borusewicz.
President of TurkeyAbdullah Guland President of PolandBronisław Komorowskiin 2011.

Since 2012, Poland, Turkey, andRomaniahave 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]

NotableTurkswith partialPolishancestry 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 Dudamet with Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğanand 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 Çavuşoğludescribed 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 BłaszczakhostedHulusi 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 Morawieckiaccused Turkey of assistingBelarusand 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 PolskaandPolish Humanitarian Action,organized fundraising and material aid for the earthquake victims.[35]

Comparison

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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 Unitaryparliamentaryconstitutional republic Unitarypresidentialconstitutionalrepublic
Legislature Parliament of Poland Grand National Assembly
Official language Polish(de factoandde jure) Turkish(de factoandde 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] $25.2 billion[42]

Resident diplomatic missions

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Embassy of Turkey in Warsaw

Honorary consulates

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Poland also has an honorary consulates inAntalya,Bursa,Gaziantepandİzmir. Turkey also has an honorary consulates inKraków,Łódź,PoznańandWrocław.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Siege of Vienna".Britannica.Retrieved3 September2022.
  2. ^Leitsch, Walter (July 1983)."1683: The Siege of Vienna".History Today.33(7).Retrieved3 September2022.
  3. ^abc"Edukacja Międzykulturowa: Turcy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 July 2010.(48.9 KB)
  4. ^Ryszard Czarnecki (14 October 2021)."Polish-Turkish friendship gives hope for world diplomacy".dailysabah.com.Retrieved15 May2023.
  5. ^Stopka, Krzysztof (2000).Ormianie w Polsce dawnej i dzisiejszej(in Polish). Kraków: Księgarnia Akademicka. p. 119.ISBN83-7188-325-0.
  6. ^Osmanka (11 February 2014)."Polonia Ottomanica: Where is the Deputy of Lehistan?".Polonia Ottomanica.Retrieved9 February2021.
  7. ^"Poland-Turkey: A Love Story".culture.pl.10 October 2013.Retrieved15 May2023.
  8. ^abcdJacek Lepiarz (15 February 2023)."Poland-Turkey relations: Cordial and growing ever closer".dw.com.Retrieved15 May2023.
  9. ^Wróbel, Janusz (2002). "Wojenne losy polskiego złota".Biuletyn Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej(in Polish). No. 8-9 (19-20).IPN.p. 58.ISSN1641-9561.
  10. ^Sinem Cengiz (28 May 2021)."Defense is not the only driving force in Turkish-Polish relations".arabnews.com.Retrieved15 May2023.
  11. ^"Poland Parliament Resolution".armenian-genocide.org.19 April 2005.Retrieved15 May2023.
  12. ^Marcin Bartnicki (23 April 2017)."Ks. Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski: W czasie ludobójstwa Ormian Turcy mordowali nawet własnych żołnierzy".dorzeczy.pl(in Polish).Retrieved15 May2023.
  13. ^"Konflikt turecko-polski. Poszło o Ormian".gazeta.pl(in Polish). 27 April 2005.Retrieved16 May2023.
  14. ^"Statut".ptcoc.eu(in Polish).Retrieved16 May2023.
  15. ^"Misja".ptcoc.eu(in Polish).Retrieved16 May2023.
  16. ^"Polsko-turecka deklaracja o współpracy gospodarczej"(PDF).mg.gov.pl(in Polish). 14 May 2009. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 October 2013.Retrieved16 May2023.
  17. ^"Turcja ogłasza żałobę narodową w dniu uroczystości pogrzebowych".RMF 24(in Polish). 12 April 2010.Retrieved3 September2022.
  18. ^"Czaputowicz: Polska, Rumunia i Turcja to trzy filary wschodniej flanki NATO".Polska Agencja Prasowa(in Polish). 28 April 2020.Retrieved3 September2022.
  19. ^"PKW w Turcji (Tailored Assurance Measures Turkey, NATO)".Portal Gov.pl(in Polish). 28 April 2020.Retrieved3 September2022.
  20. ^Afyoncu, Erhan (8 February 2019)."Origin of Hürrem Sultan still hotly debated in 21st century".Daily Sabah.Retrieved9 February2021.
  21. ^"600 years of diplomatic relations between Poland and Turkey - Vistula University".Akademia Finansów i Biznesu Vistula.Retrieved9 February2021.
  22. ^"Poland supports Turkey's EU bid, says President Duda".Politico.17 October 2017.
  23. ^"Turkey, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic join forces to host 2019 women's EuroVolley".CEV.Retrieved15 May2023.
  24. ^"'Strengthening Turkey-Poland ties to guarantee peace in region'".Anadolu Agency.10 April 2021.
  25. ^"Strażacy zakończyli misję w Turcji, powrót - w niedzielę".PolskieRadio.pl(in Polish). 14 August 2021.Retrieved3 September2022.
  26. ^"Polish-Turkish cooperation is important for security in the region".gov.pl.15 October 2021.Retrieved15 May2023.
  27. ^"Poland accuses Turkey of 'synchronising' refugee crisis with Belarus and Russia".Middle East Eye.10 November 2021.Retrieved29 September2023.
  28. ^"Poland border: Turkey blocks Belarus flights to ease migrant crisis".BBC News.12 November 2021.
  29. ^"'Turkey supported allies, primarily Poland, in Belarus migrant crisis'".21 December 2021.
  30. ^"Turkey approves visa-free travel for Polish citizens".Daily Sabah.19 April 2022.
  31. ^"Polscy strażacy w Turcji. Będą pracować w Besni".Interia(in Polish). 7 February 2023.Retrieved11 March2023.
  32. ^"Szef MON: Wojsko Polskie pomoże Turcji w walce ze skutkami trzęsienia ziemi".Polskie Radio Lublin(in Polish). 8 February 2023.Retrieved11 March2023.
  33. ^"Ratownicy górniczy z Polski polecą z pomocą do Turcji".Radio 90(in Polish). 8 February 2023.Retrieved11 March2023.
  34. ^"Rzecznik MSZ: Polska wysyła pomoc rzeczową do dotkniętej trzęsieniem ziemi Turcji".Polskie Radio RDC(in Polish). 15 February 2023.Retrieved11 March2023.
  35. ^"Pomoc dla ofiar trzęsienia ziemi w Turcji i Syrii. Lista zbiórek".PolskieRadio24.pl(in Polish). 8 February 2023.Retrieved11 March2023.
  36. ^"GUS - Bank Danych Lokalnych".bdl.stat.gov.pl.Retrieved26 October2020.
  37. ^Eurostat."Eurostat Warsaw metro population".
  38. ^"Adrese Dayalı Nüfus Kayıt Sistemi Sonuçları, 2022".data.tuik.gov.tr(in Turkish).Retrieved16 May2023.
  39. ^Struktura narodowo-etniczna, językowa i wyznaniowa ludności Polski. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011[National-ethnic, linguistic and religious structure of Poland. National Census of Population and Housing 2011](PDF)(in Polish). Central Statistical Office. 2015.ISBN978-83-7027-597-6.
  40. ^Ludność. Stan i struktura demograficzno-społeczna. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011[Population. Number and demographical-social structure. National Census of Population and Housing 2011](PDF)(in Polish). Central Statistical Office. 2013.ISBN978-83-7027-521-1.
  41. ^"Polska planuje gigantyczne wydatki na obronność w 2023 roku".defence24.pl(in Polish). 30 August 2022.Retrieved16 May2023.
  42. ^Tian, Nan; Fleurant, Aude; Kuimova, Alexandra; Wezeman, Pieter D.; Wezeman, Siemon T. (1 January 2023)."Global Firepower 2023".Global Firepower.Retrieved1 January2023.

Further reading

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