Canada-Poland relations
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Bilateral relations
The Canada-Poland relationship has a strong historical foundation that is rooted in the deep personal ties to Poland maintained by the 1 million strong Polish-Canadian community. The Embassy of Canada to Poland, in Warsaw, represents Canada in Poland. Poland is represented in Canada by its embassy in Ottawa. Poland also has consulates in Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver, as well as a commercial office in Toronto (PAIH).
Trade relations
In 2023, bilateral merchandise trade with Poland reached $3.8 billion. Canadian exports to Poland totalled $836 million, while Canadian imports from Poland totalled $3.0 billion. Two-way trade between Canada and Poland has increased by 72% since the 2017 provisional application of the Canada-European Union Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
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Defence relations
Canada and Poland enjoy a close-knit and multifaceted defence partnership. During World War II, Poles and Canadians fought side-by-side at the Battle of Britain, Normandy, Monte Cassino and the Warsaw Uprising, in which Canadian airmen died flying support missions. The Polish destroyer ORP Slazak gave support to Canadian troops landing at Dieppe in 1942; and two Polish destroyers took part in the D-Day invasion. This partnership, forged on the battlefield, has laid the groundwork for the solid defence relationship we enjoy today.
Canada remains proud of the fact that we were the first NATO country to ratify Poland's membership in 1998 – we knew then, and we know now that Poland is a staunch ally.
The Canadian Defence Attaché (CDA) is the designated point of contact between the Canadian Ministry of National Defence and Governments and Armed Forces of accredited countries – Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The CDA enhances local engagement on a range of issues related to security and defence and provides support to Canadian Foreign policy and trade priorities on defence matters. More importantly, the CDA promotes interoperability and relationships that facilitate operational cooperation and communication.
Contact information
Canadian Defence Attaché Office (CDAO)
Telephone: 48 22 584-3271
Email: wsawdr@international.gc.ca
Web:
Operations
Canada and Poland have maintained a robust defence agenda marked by frequent exercises and training exchanges.
Canadian and Polish troops are currently deployed together in the Canada-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence multinational Battle Group in Latvia and will continue their participation as the mission transitions to a brigade-size commitment. Poland is currently contributing a tank company (170 troops) and will increase its contribution with an infantry company in 2025.
Canada and Poland have also been co-operating on military training missions to bolster the military skills of Ukraine's armed forces. Canada has now trained over 37,000 members of the Ukrainian security forces since 2015 through Operation UNIFIER. This has included engineering and leadership skills, Leopard tank crew training, artillery systems maintenance and tactical medical skills.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today's most pressing global challenges, Canada and Poland work closely in multilateral forums, such as:
- European Union (EU)
- La Francophonie
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- The Pacific Alliance
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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