Polish Armaments on the Arabian Peninsula

The interview is conducted by Dr Aleksander Olech fromDefence24 with Ambassador Robert Rostek – an experienced Polish diplomat and Arabist who has represented Poland on the Arabian Peninsula for many years. He currently heads the mission in Riyadh, with accreditation to the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen, and previously served as Polish Ambassador to the UAE (2016–2020) and Qatar (2006–2013).

The conversation touches on strategic areas of Polish–Arab cooperation: from the defence industry and cybersecurity, through agriculture, technology, and healthcare, to infrastructure projects and Poland’s role as an ambitious yet realistic partner in the region. Ambassador Rostek shares his diplomatic experience, his assessment of current opportunities, and the key message that Poland has much to offer – provided it acts consistently and boldly.

Aleksander Olech, Defence24.com: What specific actions can Poland take today in the Gulf states, or more narrowly in Saudi Arabia, to gain a real presence in the security field – not just through diplomatic presence, but via tangible cooperation mechanisms?

Amb. Robert Rostek.: Poland takes an active part in events devoted to the defence industry in the region, such as theWorld Defense Show. Through, among others, the military attaché’s office, concrete talks are being held on the possibility of exporting Polish equipment (including Rosomak Armoured Personnel Carriers) for the needs of the armed forces or police of Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Oman. The interest of local states is evident from their regular presence at Polish events, such as the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce.

Of course, not everything can be spoken about publicly, and the outcome of tenders may also be influenced by third countries competing for access to the market, but Polish activity in this field is visible and gives grounds for optimism.

When it comes to broader security, the Saudis see a strategic partner not in Poland, or even – more broadly – the European Union, but traditionally in the United States, as demonstrated by Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia. The announced Saudi investment package in the US, worth almost one trillion dollars, is no coincidence, as Riyadh is consistently seeking from Washington not only the latest military equipment but also security guarantees resembling those enjoyed by NATO members.

Do you see potential for Polish companies and institutions to be involved in regional defence-related projects, for example in training, technology, or strategic consultancy?

This is already happening. Just one small-scale example is the training of the Saudi Royal Guard in working with dogs. Another group of Saudi guards is travelling to Poland this year – the next year in a row – which shows the Saudi side’s satisfaction with the cooperation and its attachment to a contractor it can rely on.

Companies connected to the broader defence sector, such as Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, WB Electronics, Huta Stalowa Wola, ZM Tarnów and many others, regularly visit the region to present their offers, develop contacts on the ground, and mark their presence.

An interesting and rapidly growing sector is cybersecurity. States in the region are investing heavily in digitalisation and e-government, which naturally offers huge opportunities but also carries risks. Polish companies – including Comarch, which has an office in Riyadh – are or have been involved both in developing such software and in testing it for security.

Which sectors – outside energy – do you consider ready for rapid and concrete development of economic cooperation between Poland and the Gulf states?

Broadly understood agriculture – both the export of agricultural produce and of machinery and modern solutions, as well as know-how in modern and environmentally friendly cultivation methods, water management, and combating desertification.

IT, with an emphasis on solutions for e-government and cybersecurity, but also – which are in high demand – technologies applicable in both education and entertainment, such as virtual reality.

For Saudi Arabia’s long-lived society, high-quality healthcare is extremely important. This includes the presence of Polish doctors and nurses on the ground, as well as initiatives such as the Polish–Saudi Centre for Physiotherapy. There is potential – partly already realised – for the development of medical tourism and for training Saudi doctors.

Saudi Arabia is, of course, benefiting from the current huge demand for fossil fuels. Nevertheless, for various reasons, Riyadh is also keen to develop clean and renewable energy. Similarly, Oman aims to become a hub for the production and distribution of green hydrogen generated by solar and wind power plants. Special economic zones are being created for this purpose in ports such as Duqm and Sohar, where enterprises from all over the world are already starting to operate.

What infrastructure projects – in ports, logistics, or transport – can realistically be considered today in cooperation with GCC partners?

At the G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023, theIndia–Middle East–Europe Corridor was announced as a major infrastructure project linking those countries and regions. It is, in a way, a response to China’sBelt and Road Initiative. A memorandum of understanding was signed between India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States. Although the matter went quiet the following year, it now appears to be returning to favour, with a certain competition between ports in Marseille, Trieste, and Piraeus for a key role in the planned project.

The activity of the United Arab Emirates is notable – they are investing, both financially and politically, in infrastructure development and in acquiring stakes in ports in Africa, especially in its eastern part, and more recently also in Egypt. DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Group hold concessions to operate in countries where their only competitor is China.

Additionally, the change of regime in Syria also brings some hope for the development of energy infrastructure, from which Europe would also benefit. This includes the planned Qatar–Turkey gas pipeline, which would run through, among others, Syrian territory and give Europe another channel for obtaining energy sources as it moves away from Russian gas. It would also partly allow for the abandonment of maritime routes, which are becoming less secure due to the situation in the Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz Straits.

It seems, however, that major infrastructure projects – such as the railway line under construction linking the UAE with Oman – would be difficult for Polish companies to implement, given the presence in the region of Indian, Turkish, and Chinese firms benefiting from much cheaper labour.

How do you see Poland’s place in the regional balance of power: are we to play the role of observer, executor of someone else’s strategy, or partner with our own offer and initiative – and how does this translate into the practical work of the embassy in Riyadh?

Certainly, a country – by some estimates – with the 20th largest economy in the world can afford more than just the role of observer. Current trade between Poland and Saudi Arabia is around USD 8 billion, making Saudi Arabia Poland’s largest partner in the Arab world. Conversely, Poland is Riyadh’s second largest trading partner in the region after Germany, which translates into political relations.

It should be remembered that in its history, Poland has not had much experience pursuing its interests on other continents, and that this part of the Middle East (unlike, for example, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, or Syria during the Cold War) has been relatively little known to us. Nevertheless, we remain a country with enormous human capital, a well-educated society, highly skilled specialists, and an active, ambitious business sector – which offers opportunities for cooperation with regional states that have substantial financial resources but still suffer from a shortage of expertise.

We must be aware, however, that we are not the only country seeking to benefit from the current pivotal moment of dynamic transformation in the economies and societies of the Gulf states. These states, under long-term reform plans (such as Saudi Arabia’sVision 2030 or Oman’sVision 2040), are seeking to reduce their dependence on oil exports and are investing in the development of all branches of the economy, leading to enormous demand for goods, services, and know-how. Naturally, this moment will pass. In the case of Saudi Arabia, it is very likely that the biggest investments will be made before the 2034 World Cup, which will be hosted by the Kingdom.

Against this backdrop, Poland’s relatively low level of investment in cooperation with this region and the rather limited interest in increasing our presence on the ground are hard to understand. A telling example is the Foreign Trade Office in Riyadh, which has been unstaffed for over a year. This hampers the use of synergies in the way the French, for example, do. France not only promotes its culture, language, and products, but also conducts extensive archaeological research in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the government, using all its strengths to promote the „France” brand – which undoubtedly also translates into political and security cooperation.

Finally, I would like to offer one suggestion as someone with exceptional experience in the Gulf region, representing Poland as ambassador in three – or, one might say, five – countries (Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and currently the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen). Poland has an enormous amount to offer, in many fields. But to gain a foothold in the region, we must undertake aggressive and dynamic work to get this message across to hosts and decision-making circles. I can assure you that the image of our country as a highly attractive state is already being noticed, but further work and consistent action are very much needed.

Thank you for the conversation!

Ambassador Robert Rostekis an experienced Polish diplomat and Arabist, currently serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Saudi Arabia, also accredited to Oman and Yemen. Previously, from 2016 to 2020, he was Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and from 2006 to 2013, to Qatar. He has also represented Poland in Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, and Israel. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University and the University of Damascus, he has been associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for almost three decades, where he has directed work on relations with Arab states. He has been awarded, among others, the UAE Order of Independence, the Qatari Gold Order of Merit, and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.