The Philippines and New Zealand have officially started negotiations for the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), according to the Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday.

The DND said the first round of talks was hosted by the Philippine government in Manila on 23 January 2025, with DND Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo and Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce leading the Philippine and New Zealand delegations, respectively.

The Philippine delegation included Department of Justice Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez and Dennis Arvin Chan, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau and Patrick Chuasoto, and DND Assistant Secretary Erik Lawrence Dy.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand delegation was composed of New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, and an analyst from the MoD. Other officials from New Zealand virtually joined the discussions on SOVFA.

According to DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, the first round of negotiations "marked an important step" in strengthening bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and New Zealand.

"A commitment to conclude a SOVFA was among the key outcomes agreed upon between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s visit to Manila in April 2024," he said.

A SOVFA will reinforce the Memorandum of Arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the MoD of New Zealand concerning defense cooperation, which was signed in 2017.

It will enable both countries’ armed forces to elevate their cooperative activities and conduct exercises in each other’s territories, deepening overall defense and military cooperation.

“The conclusion of this agreement will be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, as the two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2026,” Andolong stressed.