Poland seeks new defense deals with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Poland is seeking new defense partnerships with the Philippines, a senior foreign ministry official said on Tuesday, September 15, after completing the delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to Manila last month. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who was in Manila for annual political consultations with the Philippines, said Poland is investing nearly $50 billion for its defense industry and could sell military hardware abroad, including to the Philippines. Bartoszewski said Poland could sell both reconnaissance and fighting drones, radar equipment, anti-aircraft missiles and armored personnel carriers. A Philippine military delegation recently visited Poland to look into equipment that Manila can buy, he said. The Philippines acquired 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from Polish Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec in a deal worth P32 billion ($509.60 million) in 2022. The delivery of the last seven helicopters was completed last month, the Philippine military said. Bartoszewski said separately talks were ongoing between Ukraine and Poland for the transfer of Warsaw’s MiG-29 fighter jets in exchange for drone technology from Kyiv. Bartoszewski said the two sides are discussing whether to refurbish the jets before transferring them to Ukraine as well as the kind of technology Warsaw gets in return. Poland has been one of Ukraine’s strongest backers since Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military aid and serving as a ​key logistics hub for Western assistance. – Rappler.com ($1 = P62.7940) (Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by Martin Petty)