Phl eyes VFA with South Korea — Brawner

The Philippines is eyeing more defense pacts with other nations, particularly South Korea, following the country's recent signing of a status of visiting forces agreement (SOVFA) with New Zealand.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of this year's Exercise Balikatan between the Philippines and United States at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. emphasized the growing military and defense cooperation "is not just strategic, but also based on shared democratic values and mutual respect between nations."

Brawner touted the increasing number of participants from Japan and Australia in the recently concluded Balikatan Exercise, attributing it to the existing defense agreements the Philippines has with both countries.

"It is with great pride that we welcome also the other participants who have come for the first time. For instance, Japan has already increased its number of participants, and we are looking forward to having more participants from Australia and Japan because we already have agreements with them," he said.

Brawner also stressed the country's efforts to expand its defense network with like-minded nations to enhance regional stability and cooperation, expressing hopes for the establishment of a defense pact with South Korea.

"We have also already signed the status of visiting forces agreement with New Zealand, and very soon with Canada, with France, and hopefully with South Korea," he said.

Phl-SoKor VFA talks underway

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. confirmed that the Philippines is already initiating discussions with the South Korean government on the potential development of a defense agreement.

"Mag-uumpisa kaming mag-scoping at titingnan natin, pagkatapos ng kanilang halalan kung ano ang mangyayari ngayon wala pa, hinihintay pa natin ang matatapos ang kanilang halalan," he told reporters in an ambush interview at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

(We will begin scoping and see what happens after their elections — right now, nothing is certain yet; we’re still waiting for their elections to conclude)

Teodoro emphasized the need to strengthen defense cooperation with South Korea, as the Philippines has been procuring defense assets from them.

"Well, importante din sa atin kasi may interoperability naman talaga tayo sa kanila at ang mga, ang daming lalo na sa pandagat at ang FA50 galing sa kanila, so importante din," he said.

(Well, it’s important for us too, because we have interoperability with them, and there are many areas of cooperation — especially in the maritime domain — and the FA-50s came from them, so it’s significant as well)

The Philippines has an existing VFA with the United States and Australia, respectively.

It also has ongoing talks for the establishment of a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan.

The Philippines has been elevating its strategic defense and military cooperation with "like-minded" nations such as the US, Australia, and Japan amid the increasing security challenges in the West Philippine Sea.

Last year, the Philippines and Germany also committed to “revitalizing and deepening” their bilateral ties in a “comprehensive manner” — seeking to formalize a broader defense cooperation arrangement.