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Polish FM transforms Chobielin estate into European diplomatic ‘soft power’ hub: FT

08.10.2025 17:00
The Financial Times reports that the manor of Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, located around three and a half hours from Warsaw, has become a key centre for diplomacy and cultural exchange in the region.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikroski (left), in an archival photo, with ministers and diplomats from France and Moldova while showing them around his country residence in Chobielin, northwestern Poland.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikroski (left), in an archival photo, with ministers and diplomats from France and Moldova while showing them around his country residence in Chobielin, northwestern Poland.Photo: SOEREN STACHE/PAP/DPA

Sikorski and his wife, historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, use the manor as both a home and an office, regularly hosting foreign dignitaries, including Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Britain’s David Lammy, Raphael Minder notes in the weekend edition of the British daily.

He adds that its brick-red roof, elegant portico, and expansive lawns combine pastoral charm with political purpose.

Soft power of European diplomacy at Chobielin

Anne Applebaum (right), an American-Polish journalist and historian, and her husband, Radosław Sikorski, Poland's top diplomat, outside their country residence in Chobielin, near Bydgoszcz in northwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Tytus Żmijewski Anne Applebaum (right), an American-Polish journalist and historian, and her husband, Radosław Sikorski, Poland's top diplomat, outside their country residence in Chobielin, near Bydgoszcz in northwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Tytus Żmijewski

According to the Financial Times, Sikorski uses these visits to explain Poland’s history, shifting borders, and post-communist recovery - a form of “soft power” aimed at strengthening international understanding of the country.

The manor is richly decorated with historical artifacts, personal memorabilia, and Applebaum’s extensive library, which also serves as Sikorski’s working office.

The Financial Times article is extensively illustrated with photographs of the manor’s interiors, gardens, and historical collections, highlighting both its aesthetic and political significance.

Despite its tranquil setting, security is discreet but visible, reflecting Poland’s proximity to regional conflict, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.

 The residence of Poland's top diplomat, Radosław Sikorski, in Chobielin near Bydgoszcz, northwestern Poland. Photo: Soeren Stache/PAP/DPA The residence of Poland's top diplomat, Radosław Sikorski, in Chobielin near Bydgoszcz, northwestern Poland. Photo: Soeren Stache/PAP/DPA

Sikorski, a former journalist and defence minister, says the Chobielin estate provides a more relaxed setting for discussions than Warsaw’s official government buildings, blending personal hospitality with diplomatic dialogue.

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Source: The Financial Times