Polish diplomatic presence on the Bosporus expanded

The Polish Institute in Istanbul will support public and cultural diplomacy in Türkiye-one of Poland's principal non-EU partners. The relations between Poland and Türkiye have an exceptionally rich history, dating back to the fifteenth century. Currently, the two countries are focused on steadily strengthening our economic and security cooperation. Moreover, Türkiye remains one of Poland's key partners on NATO's southeastern flank and Poland consistently supports Türkiye's European perspective.

Istanbul is viewed as not only Türkiye's main economic and cultural centre but also a hub for a robust exchange of ideas, academic contacts, and artistic activity. Having a Polish Institute operating in such a city will largely increase Poland's visibility in the region and enable reaching a wide and diverse audience, from students and scholars to members of the cultural and business circles.

Opening a Polish Institute in Istanbul is an investment in dialogue and mutual understanding. It is a new space for promoting Polish culture, art, and science, and for cooperation between Poland and Türkiye. The establishment of the Polish Institute marks a major step towards further strengthening the Polish-Turkish relations and creating more opportunities for dialogue between the two societies.

Overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish Institutes spread knowledge about Poland and promote the country's national heritage, culture, history, science, language, and more.

The Institutes foster cultural exchange and make sure that Polish culture is present in the public life of their host countries. They reach broad circles of foreign artists, experts, scientists, and opinion makers.

They are also responsible for fulfilling international obligations arising from Poland's cultural agreements and programmes implemented with other countries.

Another task of the Polish Institutes is to nurture the establishment of lasting contacts with foreign partners active in the sphere of international cultural exchange, e.g. within the framework of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC).

The first Polish Institute was set up in Bucharest, Romania, in 1937. Besides Istanbul, Poland recently opened such Institutes in Serbia's capital of Belgrade in 2023 and in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in 2018.