The Philippines and New Zealand are moving toward joint military training under their existing defense cooperation framework, a move that could eventually lead to Wellington’s inclusion in the “Squad,” an informal security alliance involving the Philippines, the United States (US), Japan, and Australia.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed that Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Major General Robert Krushka, commander of the Joint Forces of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), held a meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on 7 July.
The two defense officials discussed regional security concerns and explored ways to deepen defense ties.
In addition to enhancing collaboration on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), Teodoro noted the potential involvement of the NZDF in activities under the quadrilateral cooperation among the Philippines, US, Australia, and Japan “once the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) enters into force.”
“This could include participation in future iterations of both bilateral and multilateral military exercises,” he added.
Last 30 April, Manila and Wellington signed SOVFA, establishing a legal framework for the entry and presence of military personnel for joint defense operations of both countries.
This pact reinforces a Memorandum of Arrangement between the Department of National Defense and the AFP with the Ministry of Defence of New Zealand concerning defense cooperation, which was signed in 2017.
The agreement, inked by Teodoro and New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, stemmed from discussions initiated at the 2019 Shangri-La Dialogue. Formal negotiations took place between late 2024 and early 2025.
Before the SOVFA can be implemented, it must receive presidential ratification and Senate concurrence.
Once ratified, the DND expects New Zealand to play a more active role in the Squad’s regional initiatives.
To recall, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. previously expressed intention to also include India and South Korea in the group to bolster collective deterrence against shared security threats, including concerns over China’s assertiveness.
During the meeting, Major General Krushka reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ security objectives.
He highlighted areas where the NZDF could offer assistance, including logistics, training and capacity-building, and military education opportunities.
Teodoro and Krushka agreed to reactivate key bilateral defense mechanisms such as the Bilateral Defense Talks and the Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) Talks between the AFP and the NZDF to advance future defense cooperation.