Polish President Karol Nawrocki visits the Philippines to expand defence, trade and diplomatic ties

Diplomatic talks in Manila

Karol Nawrocki arrived in Manila for the first official visit by a Polish head of state to the Philippines since bilateral diplomatic relations were established in 1973. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos welcomed the Polish delegation at Malacañang Palace on 6 October 2026, hosting an official dinner accompanied by a military orchestra performance of the Polish national anthem and an evening fireworks display. Bilateral talks in narrow and plenary formats focused on elevating bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership. Polish officials, including Head of the International Policy Bureau Marcin Przydacz, framed the visit as the opening leg of a broader tour across the Global South designed to support Poland's bid for permanent membership in the G20, where Poland participates as a guest at the summit in Miami.

Security and shared historical parallels

On 7 October, Nawrocki laid a wreath at the José Rizal monument in Luneta Park before delivering an address to students and faculty at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila. His lecture drew parallels between the historical struggles of both countries, emphasizing shared Catholic traditions, family values, and common security interests. Nawrocki linked Poland's historical encounters with Russian and Soviet expansionism to the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hybrid operations against European states. Following the address, university officials presented Nawrocki with the institution's official mascot, a plush Bengal tiger.

Poland's answer is clear: deterrence requires strength. That is why, as a committed NATO ally and a close security partner of the United States, we are investing heavily in defence and strengthening our military capabilities.

Trade, technology, and defence cooperation

Economic cooperation featured prominently on 7 October with the opening of the 5th Poland-Philippines IT Business Summit and a visit to a bilateral hackathon hosted at iAcademy. Nawrocki addressed business leaders, pointing to Poland's economic transformation over the past 35 years and noting that Polish gross domestic product rose from less than half the European Union average upon accession to more than 80% today. He described Poland's position as the largest economy in Central and Eastern Europe and a member of the 13-nation Three Seas Initiative, acting as a gateway for Southeast Asian partners to the EU single market. Defence cooperation forms another core pillar of the trip, concluding with a planned visit to the Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, where Nawrocki will view S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters manufactured at PZL Mielec in Poland and delivered to the Philippine Air Force.

First Lady agenda and community outreach

First Lady Marta Nawrocka conducted a parallel schedule, meeting with Louise Araneta-Marcos at the Likhang Filipino exhibition space to observe traditional crafts including pastillas pabalat paper cutting, calligraphy, and weaving. Nawrocka also visited the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate in the Commonwealth district of Quezon City, where Polish nuns have operated charitable and developmental programs since 2011. The mission runs three annual week-long tailoring courses for vulnerable women, having trained approximately 150 participants and supplied them with sewing equipment to launch independent livelihoods. During the visit, Nawrocki conferred the Silver Cross of Merit on Sister Agata Maria Sobczyk, who coordinates the mission and previously led shelter operations for more than 200 adults and children during typhoon floods in 2025.