Libya–Poland relations

File:General Sikorski visit.jpg and the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade in Tobruk in 1941]]

During World War II, Poles and Libyans were part of the Allied coalition, which successfully defended Tobruk during an Axis siege. There is a Polish military cemetery in Tobruk, and the battle is also commemorated at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.{{cite book|last=Krząstek|first=Tadeusz|year=2006|title=Tobruk w historii i tradycji Wojska Polskiego|language=pl,en|location=Warszawa|pages=43–45}} Afterwards, in late 1941, the Poles fought against Axis forces in present-day Libya in Gazala and Bardia.Krząstek, pp. 16, 60 In December 1941, the Polish ship SS Warszawa, which carried Allied soldiers, mostly Libyans, was hit and sunk by the Germans near Tobruk.{{cite news|url=https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1227.html|title=Warszawa (Polish Steam merchant)|website=uboat.net|access-date=11 December 2023}} Four crew members and 19 soldiers were killed.

In 1949, Poland opposed a British-French-American protectorate over Libya and supported Libya's full independence in the following years.{{sfn|Knopek|2006|p=145}}

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 December 1963.{{Cite web |title=Poland in Libya |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/libya/bilateral-relations |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=gov.pl}} A cultural cooperation agreement between Poland and Libya was signed in Tripoli in 1976.{{Cite Polish law|title=Umowa między Rządem Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej a Rządem Arabskiej Republiki Libijskiej o współpracy kulturalnej i naukowej, podpisana w Trypolisie dnia 27 października 1976 r.|year=1977|volume=36|number=155}} An agreement for exchanging Libyan oil for Polish technical expertise and equipment was also concluded.{{cite book|author=|title=Libya: a country study|series=Area Handbook Series|year=1987|publisher=Library of Congress|page=230}} In 1978, Libya was the largest importer of Polish goods among so-called Third World countries.{{sfn|Knopek|2006|p=154}} In the early 1980s, over 10,000 Polish specialists were employed in various industrial projects and medical facilities and in Libya.{{sfn|Knopek|2006|pp=154–155}}

Poland at the mid-2000s like the rest of West countries started to turn its eyes back on Libya after almost 20 years of absence.{{cite web|url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/WVpage/pages/article.php/7410/article|title=Poland-Libya: Thawed Relations|publisher=The Warsaw Voice|date=25 January 2005|access-date=28 October 2011}} At the beginning of the civil war, the Polish government was not eager to participate in any military action in Libya, but called the other members of NATO and European Union to use other ways, but prime minister Donald Tusk assured that Poland would take part in some "community activities."{{cite web|url=http://www.zachod.pl/2011/03/polskie-stanowisko-dot-libii/|author=Karolina Kamińska|title=Polskie stanowisko dot. Libii|trans-title=Polish position on Libya|publisher=Radio West|date=10 March 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|language=pl}} At the same time, Polish NGOs started the preparations to help eastern Libya.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcpm.org.pl/uploads/Strony-pliki/PCPM%20press%20release%20Libia%208-3-2011.pdf|title=Polska pomoc dla wschodniej Libii. Informacja dla prasy|trans-title=Polish help for East Libya. Statement for press|date= 8 March 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|publisher=Polskie Centrum Pomocy Międzynarodowej (Polish Center of International Help)|language=pl}} The position of government concern Libya has not changed with the beginning of Military intervention in Libya.{{cite web|url=http://news.money.pl/artykul/polskie;f16;w;libii;mozemy;nie;musimy,199,0,803015.html|title=Polskie F16 w Libii? Możemy, nie musimy|trans-title=Polish F16s in Libya? We may, we do not need|publisher=money.pl|language=pl|date=30 March 2011|access-date=28 October 2011}}

The diplomatic relations with NTC were established during the visit of Polish FM Radosław Sikorski to Benghazi on 11 May, when he announced the recognition of the NTC as "rightful interlocutor for the international community (...) in Libya"{{cite news|url=http://fakty.interia.pl/fakty-dnia/news/sikorski-bedziemy-wspierali-demokratyczne-aspiracje-libii,1637066/ff8c4f15f94c96cd0f3d939ae44bfe8c|publisher=interia.pl|date=12 May 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|title=Sikorski: Będziemy wspierali demokratyczne aspiracje Libii|trans-title=Sikorski: We will support the democratic aspirations of Libya|language=pl}} Poland was the only country that opened its embassy in Benghazi.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/51137,Polish-Embassy-in-Libya-relocated-to-Benghazi|title=Polish Embassy in Libya relocated to Benghazi|publisher= Polish Radio External Service|date=7 July 2011|access-date=28 October 2011}} On 8 July, the Minister noticed the Polish recognition of NTC as the "legitimate government of the Libyan people".{{cite news|url=http://www.arabstates.net/middle-east/poland-officially-recognized-the-provisional-council-in-benghazi/|title=Poland officially recognized the Provisional Council in Benghazi|author=Dorian Pliszka|publisher=ArabStates.Net|date=8 July 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803073714/http://www.arabstates.net/middle-east/poland-officially-recognized-the-provisional-council-in-benghazi/|archive-date=3 August 2012}} Poland was also member of Libya Contact Group, where it offered to launch humanitarian help and training for state officials and new law and order services.{{cite web|url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/Foreign,Minister,Radoslaw,Sikorski,in,Istanbul,for,Libya,Contact,Group,44312.html|title=Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in Istanbul for Libya Contact Group|publisher=Foreign Ministry of Republic of Poland|date= 15 July 2011|access-date=27 August 2011}} There are unofficial reports that Poland was sending weapons and officers of Polish Special Forces.{{cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/53769,Poland-supplied-arms-to-Libyan-rebels|title= Poland Supplied Arms to Libyan Rebels?|date=22 August 2011|publisher=Polish Radio External Service|access-date=28 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7441585&c=EUR&s=LAN|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728212630/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7441585&c=EUR&s=LAN|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2012|author=Adamowski, Jarosław|title=Poland Sold Arms to Libyan Rebels|work=Defense News|date=22 August 2011|access-date=28 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://wyborcza.pl/1,75477,10155380,Polska_pomogla_pokonac_Kaddafiego.html|author=Paweł Wroński|title=Polska pomogła pokonać Kaddafiego|trans-title=Poland helped defeat Kaddafi|publisher=Gazeta Wyborcza|date=22 August 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|language=pl}} Ahmed El-Mallul, a Libyan surgeon in Poland, was a mediator between the NTC and the Polish government.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/53965,Libyans-‘ripe-for-democracy-says-rebel-‘contact-in-Poland|title= Libyans 'ripe for democracy' says rebel 'contact' in Poland|date=25 August 2011|publisher=Polish Radio External Service|access-date=28 October 2011}} On 15 September Poland reopened its embassy in Tripoli{{cite web|url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/Polish,Embassy,transfers,back,to,Tripoli,45469.html|title=Polish Embassy transfers back to Tripoli|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Poland|date=16 September 2011}} and started to prepare ground for humanitarian help, which arrived on 3 October in Misrata{{cite web|url=http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/raporty/upadek-kaddafiego/polska-pomoc-medyczna-trafila-do-libii,1,4869317,wiadomosc.html|title=Polska pomoc medyczna trafiła do Libii|trans-title=Poland's medical help reached Libya|publisher=onet.pl|date=3 October 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|language=pl}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polskapomoc.gov.pl/,Polish,medical,team,in,Misrata,1243.html|title=Polish medical team in Misrata|publisher=polskapomoc.gov.pl (official website of "Polish Development Cooperation" - program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)|date=3 October 2011}} Also Libyan representatives were in Poland at the parliamentary elections on 6–11 October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.wprost.pl/ar/264844/Arabowie-przyjechali-obserwowac-wybory-w-Polsce/|title=Arabowie przyjechali obserwować wybory w Polsce|trans-title=Arabs came to observe elections in Poland|publisher=wprost.pl|date=7 October 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|language=pl}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polskapomoc.gov.pl/Egyptians,,Libyans,and,Tunisians,observed,Polish,parliamentary,elections,1260.html|title=Egyptians, Libyans and Tunisians observed Polish parliamentary elections|publisher=polskapomoc.gov.pl|date=21 October 2011|access-date=28 October 2011}} Next visit of foreign minister took place on 24 October in Tripoli.{{cite web|url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/Foreign,Minister,Radoslaw,Sikorski,on,a,visit,to,Libya,46232.html|author=Marcin Bosacki|title=Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on a visit to Libya|date=24 October 2011|access-date=28 October 2011|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland}} Three days later Libyan decedents decided to strengthen bilateral relations and notify Polish MFA about upgrading its Economic Cooperation Bureau in Warsaw to the rank of Embassy and establish a joint Libyan-Polish commission headed by its Ministers of Foreign Affairs.{{cite web|url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/Embassy,of,Libya,to,be,established,in,Warsaw,46310.html|author=Marcin Bosacki|title=Embassy of Libya to be established in Warsaw|date=28 October 2011|access-date=29 October 2011|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland}}

File:Ambasada LIbii w Warszawie 2021.jpg]]

• Libya has an embassy in Warsaw.
• Poland has an embassy in Tripoli.

• Foreign relations of Libya
• Foreign relations of Poland

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|last=Knopek|first=Jacek|year=2006|title=Stosunki Polski z Afryką Arabską po II wojnie światowej|journal=Forum Politologiczne|publisher=Instytut Nauk Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie|language=pl|volume=3|issn=1734-1698}}

{{Foreign relations of Libya}}

{{Foreign relations of Poland}}

{{Portal bar|Politics|Libya|Poland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Libya-Poland relations}}

Poland

Libya