Philippines, Poland ink mutual legal assistance pact

President Marcos shakes hands with Poland President Karol Nawrocki at Malacañang on October 6, 2026. This marks the first-ever state visit by a Polish head of state to the Philippines since diplomatic relations were established in 1973.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Poland yesterday signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, as leaders of both countries expect expanded relations in economy, information technology, defense as well as a strategic partnership amid security threats facing the two nations.

President Marcos welcomed Polish President Karol Nawrocki and his delegation at Malacañang, where the latter was accorded arrival honors.

This is the first visit of a head of state of the Republic of Poland to the Philippines.

At a joint press conference at Malacañang, Marcos highlighted the two countries’ ongoing and future cooperation in key areas such as defense and security, trade, industry, agriculture, science and technology, information and communications technology, energy, legal cooperation and people-to-people relations.

The President also cited the Philippines’ acquisition of S-70 Black Hawk combat utility helicopters from Poland as part of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He said the two countries look forward to building on the outcomes of the inaugural Philippines-Poland Joint Defense Cooperation Committee, including through joint training and educational opportunities.

Poland has been participating as an observer in the Balikatan Exercises since 2025.

“President Nawrocki and I also had insightful exchange of views on regional and international matters of mutual concern, including the challenges in the South China Sea and security developments in Ukraine and in Europe,” Marcos said.

“We reiterated our shared commitment to upholding the rule of law in international relations and the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Marcos said.

For his part, Nawrocki said defense cooperation is an important aspect of the two countries’ relations, as security challenges face by Europe and the Indo-Pacific “can no longer be approached separately.”

“We want to develop this cooperation also in other areas,” the Polish leader said, noting that the IT sector is one of the important areas of potential cooperation between Warsaw and Manila.

“We have discussed maritime security, state resilience, cyber security, also about the security of strategic supply chains,” Nawrocki said.

“Today we want, and we are opening a new chapter in these relations. Poland is very much interested in raising our relationship to the level of a strategic partnership,” he noted.

Marcos said he and Nawrocki reaffirmed the two countries’ respect for international law.

“And of course, these incursions or attempts to change territorial definitions are unacceptable in both Poland and in the Philippines,” he said.

Nawrocki will inaugurate today the fifth edition of the Polish-Filipino Economic IT Summit in Manila.

He also asked the Philippines’ support for Poland’s permanent membership in the G20, as it is the 20th largest economy in the world, and has invited Marcos to visit Warsaw.

The two countries signed the Agreement on a Transfer of Sentenced Persons earlier this year.

Manila and Warsaw also affirmed their readiness to commence negotiations on an extradition agreement, Marcos said.