Polish MFA outlines vision for stronger California partnership - EXCLUSIVE
On 15 July 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski held an extensive meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom, during which they discussed transatlantic relations, the NATO Summit in Ankara, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and ways to further strengthen Polish-American cooperation. During his visit to Silicon Valley, Minister Sikorski also met with representatives of a company supporting Polish startups in entering the U.S. market. Their talks focused on cooperation with investors and the institutional support available to Polish businesses expanding into the United States. He subsequently met with representatives of leading technology companies operating in Silicon Valley to discuss the growth of Polish businesses, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, opportunities to deepen technological cooperation, and ways to encourage greater investment and the expansion of research and development activities in Poland.
This was said by the source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland in an exclusive interview with CE Report.
The discussions highlighted significant opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Poland and California in innovation, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies. If California were an independent country, it would rank as the world's fourth-largest economy and is widely recognized as a global center of innovation, accounting for approximately 18% of global research and development spending. It is also the leading destination for venture capital investment in the United States, making it a key market for innovative businesses. Polish entrepreneurs are already actively contributing to California’s technology ecosystem by developing globally competitive solutions. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, deepening technological partnerships, encouraging investment, and promoting research and development activities in Poland. Poland and California are also continuing to strengthen their cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland considers the presence of Polish companies and startups in Silicon Valley to be an important asset in strengthening Poland’s international economic profile. As one of the world’s leading centers of innovation and emerging technologies, Silicon Valley provides Polish entrepreneurs with access to global investors, strategic partners, and cutting-edge expertise. Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski’s meetings with Polish representatives in the region highlighted the significant contribution these companies make by developing globally competitive technologies and strengthening Poland’s reputation as an innovative economy. A key conclusion of the discussions was that simplifying the rules governing public grants for innovation would better support the growth of Polish companies and start-ups. Such reforms could further enhance Poland’s international economic presence by enabling more innovative businesses to compete successfully in global markets.
The newly appointed Honorary Consuls are expected to play an important role in strengthening Poland’s ties with the western United States by supporting the work of the Polish foreign service and enhancing its outreach. During his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski appointed three new Honorary Consuls: Dianne Panos Taube in Belmont, California, Gregory G. Flynn in Napa, California, and Tomasz Niemyjski in Surprise, Arizona. All three are actively engaged with the Polish diaspora and are well positioned to promote Poland’s interests at the local level. Their responsibilities include fostering a positive image of Poland, facilitating contacts between Polish entrepreneurs and business partners in the United States, supporting economic cooperation, and encouraging cultural and educational exchanges. They also play an important role in assisting the Polish community abroad. Honorary Consuls perform these duties on a voluntary, pro bono basis, making a valuable contribution to the development of Poland’s international partnerships.
The Ministry’s key priorities for strengthening Polish-American relations with California in the coming years include expanding cooperation with the Polish diaspora (the largest community of people of Polish descent on the U.S. West Coast, with approximately 400,000 residents declaring Polish ancestry according to the 2024 American Community Survey), promoting Polish culture, and deepening partnerships in the creative industries, as well as in fields of artificial intelligence, technological partnerships, cybersecurity, encouraging investment.
Photo: AI
This interview was prepared by Julian Müller
