Phl-Canada visiting forces agreement brewing

The Philippines is in discussions with Canada for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), marking a significant step in defense cooperation between the two nations. The development follows the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Canada on 19 January 2024.

The SOVFA aims to enhance military engagements and defense cooperation activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its Canadian counterparts.

This agreement is being pursued as the two countries commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2024.

"The Philippines is committed to further strengthening our defense capabilities and our engagements with key defense partners support our national efforts," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The DFA, however, deferred to the Department of National Defense (DND) for details on the negotiations. The DND has yet to comment on the matter.

Growing defense partnerships

The Philippines has been actively seeking to expand its defense agreements with international allies.

In May 2024, discussions between the Philippines and France explored plans for a visiting forces agreement aimed at boosting capability development and joint defense industry cooperation. The two nations also committed to strengthening defense technology, intelligence sharing, disaster risk reduction, cyber security exchanges, and military training exercises.

Meanwhile, on 8 July 2024, the Philippines and Japan formally signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). The agreement outlines provisions on entry and departure, access to facilities, professional practice for visiting forces, and jurisdictional rules governing the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and AFP personnel involved in cooperative activities.

By December 2024, the Philippine Senate concurred with the ratification of the RAA, facilitating deeper military cooperation between the AFP and JSDF.

With ongoing negotiations with Canada, the Philippines continues to build its network of international defense partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to regional security and military modernization.