Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines and Poland are preparing to negotiate an extradition agreement in a bid to expand legal cooperation in step with growing defense and economic ties.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the Manila-Warsaw talks during his meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki at Malacañang on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

“We further affirmed our readiness to commence negotiations on an extradition agreement,” Marcos said during a joint press conference.

Both sides just signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Marcos said the agreement builds on an earlier deal covering the transfer of sentenced persons.

“I am also pleased with the progress in legal cooperation between our two countries, marked by the signing of the Agreement on a Transfer of Sentenced Persons earlier this year, and today, as we have just witnessed, the signing of the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters,” he said.

The deal, often called a mutual legal assistance treaty or MLAT, allows both sides to help each other gather evidence and handle legal procedures for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

The two leaders also discussed expanding defense cooperation, including joint training and educational opportunities.

Marcos cited the country’s acquisition of Polish-made S-70 Black Hawk combat utility helicopters as part of the military modernization program.

Poland has also participated as an observer in the annual Balikatan exercises since 2025.

Beyond security, Marcos and Nawrocki discussed cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, science and technology, information and communications technology, tourism and space technologies.

The two countries are also working to finalize a memorandum of understanding on ICT cooperation covering cybersecurity, e-governance and digital connectivity.

Nawrocki’s visit is the first by a Polish president.