World leaders, governments and international institutions have sent congratulations to Poland as the country celebrates the 108th anniversary of regaining its independence. Messages marking National Independence Day on Wednesday, 11 November, arrived from across Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia, with foreign leaders praising Poland’s history, commitment to freedom and contribution to international cooperation.
Among those offering their congratulations were European Council President António Costa, leaders of Lithuania and Latvia, the United States’ diplomatic mission to NATO, the president of the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan’s president.
Foreign ministries in several other countries also marked the occasion, while Ukraine’s armed forces issued a message acknowledging Poland’s support during Russia’s invasion.
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The greetings accompanied celebrations across Poland commemorating the restoration of the country’s independence in 1918, after 123 years of partition.
European Council president congratulates Poland
European Council President António Costa was among the senior international figures who publicly marked the anniversary.
Costa published a short congratulatory message in English and Polish, wishing Poland a happy National Independence Day.
The European Council, which brings together the leaders of the European Union’s member states, also marked the historical significance of the occasion.
An EU Council message recalled that Poland regained its independence in 1918 after more than a century of partition and highlighted the white-and-red national flag as an expression of the country’s history and identity.
The European messages were among the congratulations documented by Polish Radio, alongside greetings from NATO representatives and foreign governments.
The messages reflected Poland’s role within the European Union, which it joined in 2004.
Lithuania celebrates a shared history with Poland
Some of the most detailed messages came from Lithuania, a country whose history has been closely connected with Poland for centuries.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius sent formal congratulations to the Polish people on behalf of his government.
In the Lithuanian government’s official Independence Day message, he praised the determination of generations of Poles to defend their independence and shape their country’s future.
He emphasised that freedom must be protected and should never be taken for granted.
Sinkevičius also referred to the 235th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May 1791, adopted by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
He said the two countries’ historical relationship continues through their modern cooperation within NATO and the European Union.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda also congratulated Poland, recognising its contribution to regional security.
His message highlighted Poland’s participation in NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission, joint military exercises and infrastructure projects connecting the two countries.
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys separately praised the Polish-Lithuanian strategic partnership, emphasising the importance of cooperation in defending European security.
He ended his message with a greeting in Polish: “Niech żyje Polska!” — Long live Poland.
Latvia and Estonia send their congratulations
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also marked Poland’s Independence Day with a message addressed to President Karol Nawrocki and the Polish people.
He referred to the countries’ shared experiences of fighting for freedom and their continuing partnership in protecting it.
The president ended his greeting in Polish:
“Niech żyje wolna i niepodległa Polska!” — Long live a free and independent Poland.
Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent congratulations.
The messages from the Baltic states reflected their close geographical, political and security relationships with Poland.
All four countries belong to NATO and the European Union and share concerns about European security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Baltic greetings were documented in TVP Info’s 11 November coverage, which brought together messages from foreign leaders and diplomatic institutions.
United States mission to NATO praises Poland
The United States also featured prominently among the international congratulations.
The US Mission to NATO published a message wishing Poland a happy Independence Day and praising its contribution to the Atlantic alliance.
The mission highlighted Poland’s substantial investment in its armed forces and its role in strengthening NATO’s collective defence.
It also emphasised the shared commitment of Poland and the United States to freedom and prosperity.
Poland has become one of NATO’s largest defence spenders relative to the size of its economy and is pursuing a major programme of military modernisation.
The Independence Day message came one day after Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz held talks at the Pentagon with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Those discussions concerned defence-industry cooperation and Poland’s efforts to secure an additional permanent American military base.
The NATO mission’s congratulatory message was a separate diplomatic gesture, not an announcement of any new military agreement.
The greetings should also be attributed correctly to the United States Mission to NATO, rather than presented as a personal statement from President Donald Trump.
Three UAE leaders congratulate Poland
Poland also received formal congratulations from the leadership of the United Arab Emirates.
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message to Polish President Karol Nawrocki to mark the national holiday.
The UAE’s vice-president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also sent greetings.
A third message came from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, another UAE vice-president and deputy prime minister.
The two vice-presidents addressed their congratulations to both Nawrocki and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The messages were confirmed by the official Emirates News Agency on 11 November, demonstrating that the country’s national holiday was also formally recognised by senior leaders in the Gulf region.
The congratulations were diplomatic messages rather than announcements of new agreements between Poland and the Emirates.
Pakistan’s president sends a formal message
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari joined the international congratulations with a formal letter to President Nawrocki.
Zardari extended his wishes on behalf of the Pakistani government and people, as well as personally.
He described relations between Poland and Pakistan as longstanding and based on mutual respect, goodwill and international cooperation.
The Pakistani president also expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would continue developing in areas of shared interest.
His message was published by Pakistan’s Press Information Department, with an embargo specifying that it should not be released before 11 November.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent congratulations, wishing Poland peace, progress and prosperity.
The messages formed part of the wider tradition of diplomatic exchanges marking national holidays.
Turkey, Azerbaijan and other countries join the greetings
Several other countries extended their congratulations through their foreign ministries and diplomatic representations.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked Poland’s national holiday, describing the country as an ally and strategic partner.
Both countries are members of NATO, and their bilateral relationship includes defence cooperation, trade and diplomatic engagement.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also published a greeting congratulating the Polish government and people.
As Azerbaijani news agency Report confirmed on 11 November, the ministry shared its wishes through its official social-media account.
Messages and acknowledgements also came from the foreign ministries of Moldova and Sri Lanka, as well as diplomatic representations including Ireland’s.
These greetings demonstrate the geographical range of countries recognising Poland’s national anniversary, extending well beyond its immediate European neighbours.
They do not necessarily indicate new diplomatic initiatives or changes in bilateral policy.
Ukraine’s armed forces recognise Polish support
Ukraine’s armed forces also sent Independence Day congratulations to Poland’s military and people.
In an official statement, the Ukrainian General Staff expressed appreciation for Poland’s support since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The message acknowledged military assistance, training, medical care for wounded personnel and the shelter provided to Ukrainian families.
It also paid tribute to Polish volunteers and people of Polish descent who had died during the war.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ official Independence Day greeting connected Poland’s historical experience of fighting for independence with Ukraine’s ongoing defence of its sovereignty.
The message concluded with wishes for peace and prosperity for the Republic of Poland.
Why Poland celebrates 11 November
Poland’s National Independence Day commemorates the restoration of its statehood in 1918 following 123 years of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
On 11 November 1918, the Regency Council transferred command of Polish military forces to Józef Piłsudski.
The date also coincided with the armistice that ended the fighting on the Western Front during the First World War.
The re-establishment of an independent Polish state resulted from years of political and military struggle, the collapse of the partitioning empires and the work of generations who preserved Polish culture and national identity.
For a detailed account, Poland-24’s historical overview of Poland’s road to independence examines the developments that led to the restoration of statehood in 1918.
This year’s anniversary was marked by military ceremonies, wreath-laying events, concerts, marches and community celebrations throughout the country.
The main state commemoration took place at Warsaw’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where President Nawrocki, military commanders and senior government representatives gathered for ceremonial military honours.
Poland-24 has separately reported on the 2026 Independence Day commemorations in Warsaw and Szczecin, including the national ceremony and the raising of the Polish flag aboard a newly built Baltic ferry.
Poland’s independence remembered around the world
The international greetings reflected Poland’s connections with countries across several continents.
European leaders emphasised shared history, national sovereignty and cooperation within the European Union.
Baltic governments highlighted regional security, while the United States’ mission to NATO acknowledged Poland’s military investment and role in the alliance.
Leaders in the Middle East and Asia sent formal messages recognising the country’s national holiday and reaffirming diplomatic ties.
Ukraine’s armed forces used the occasion to acknowledge Poland’s wartime assistance.
The messages were largely symbolic expressions of friendship and recognition, rather than announcements of new policies or agreements.
Taken together, they showed how the anniversary of Poland’s return to independence continues to be acknowledged well beyond its borders, with governments and institutions around the world joining Poles in commemorating 11 November 1918.
