NZ, Phl to sign Status of Visiting Forces Agreement to boost defense ties

New Zealand and the Philippines are set to deepen their defense ties as officials prepare to sign a new Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) this week, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins announced.

Collins, who is traveling to the Philippines today, will formalize the agreement alongside Philippine officials, emphasizing the growing importance of regional security cooperation.

“It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories," Collins said in a statement.

The signing follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during Luxon’s visit to Manila last year. Once signed, the SOVFA will undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate.

While in the Philippines, Collins is scheduled to meet with President Marcos and hold a bilateral meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro.

“We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,” Collins said.

The SOVFA will outline the legal conditions for military cooperation between the two countries, setting responsibilities and obligations for both sides. It builds on earlier agreements, including the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement signed in 2024 and the Defence Cooperation Arrangement established in 2012.

New Zealand has signed similar agreements with other nations, most recently with Fiji in 2023.