France has expressed commitment to the signing of a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines amid China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at the Stratbase ADR Institute’s Friday forum commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Philippines’ arbitral victory, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel described the move as a “logical next step.”

“It (VFA) is aimed at providing a robust legal and operational framework for our armed forces to train, operate, and respond together,” Fontanel said speaking before fellow ambassadors from like-minded countries that support the 2016 Arbitral ruling.

“A VFA would enable more frequent and complex joint exercises, enhance readiness and mutual understanding, and facilitate coordinated responses to maritime incidents, natural disasters, or emerging threats,” she added.

Fontanel said the proposed framework — allowing troops from both nations to train on each other’s soil — would strengthen the Philippines’ capacity to defend its territories.

“It would support capacity-building for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, especially in surveillance, search and rescue, and environmental protection,” she said.

“The France-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement should be a concrete step providing a robust legal and operational framework for our armed forces to train, operate, and respond together to a wide spectrum of challenges,” she added.