Polish foreign minister awaits presidential meeting over 42 pending ambassadorial nominations awaiting presidential signature.
Sikorski Seeks Presidential Approval on Ambassador Appointments
On Friday (January 16), Radosław Sikorski participated in a brief press conference before his flight to India. When asked about his planned meeting with Karol Nawrocki, Sikorski stated: “I hope to convince the president to sign – in accordance with the law – 42 submitted applications for ambassadorial nominations. Previously, I managed to convince President Andrzej Duda, who signed 24 such applications.”
The foreign minister emphasized that “the role of the minister is to submit applications containing opinions of the foreign service convention and counterintelligence, consent of the host country, the Sejm committee, and the interested person themselves, and the role of the president – in accordance with the constitution – is to issue nominations and letters of recommendation to other heads of state. Everyone in the state should do what is their duty.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the nomination documents “have been with the president for 163 days.” Sikorski indicated that a breakthrough could happen earlier if the president signs the nominations.
Meeting Set Between Nawrocki and Sikorski
Head of the Presidential Bureau of International Policy Marcin Przydacz announced that on January 26 at 14:00, Karol Nawrocki will meet with Radosław Sikorski at the Presidential Palace. The main topic of the talks will be ambassadorial nominations.
Przydacz pointed out that in many Polish foreign missions, ambassadors are currently replaced by diplomats in the rank of charge d’affaires, which he described as “not an optimal situation.” This dispute between the government and presidential sides began during Andrzej Duda’s presidency. Particular attention is focused on the Washington mission, currently headed by Bogdan Klich as charge d’affaires rather than ambassador due to the unsigned nomination. According to “Dziennik Gazety Prawnej,” this situation is problematic and will complicate preparations for Poland’s first participation in the G20 summit.
Polish Ambassador to Denmark to Visit Greenland
During his press conference, Sikorski addressed questions about Greenland and his earlier announcement that Poland’s ambassador to Denmark would travel to the island. “There is increased interest from the whole world in the issue of Greenland, for obvious reasons,” Sikorski responded, noting that Polish citizens also live there. He recalled that state-owned company KGHM previously held a prospecting license on Greenland, which it later sold.
Our ambassador to Denmark will visit Greenland to assess whether there’s a need to establish a consulate there, Sikorski explained. “If our Polish compatriots living on the island tell him that it would be useful, we will consider this step. We have one of the largest minorities there,” he added. According to Statbank Greenland, 80 Poles lived on the island in 2025.