March 16, 2025 - Canada and the Philippines recently concluded a visiting forces agreement that will allow military forces of both countries to train in each other’s territories.
Formally called a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), the agreement reflects the commitment of both countries in strengthening bilateral relations and will reinforce the Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in January of 2024. Formal negotiations for the SOVFA started in January 2025.
In a media release, Canada’s Minister of National Defence Bill Blair noted that the “successful conclusion of this agreement is a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Canada, which celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2024.”
In a statement, the Philippines’ Department of National Defense spokesperson and assistant secretary Arsenio Andolong said, “This agreement will establish a framework for increased cooperation, fostering closer collaboration between defense and military establishments, improving interoperability between forces, and facilitating more effective joint exercises and capacity-building activities.”
“The Philippines looks forward to the positive impact of the SOVFA, which is expected to contribute to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” added Andolong. “The DND remains committed to working closely with international partners to safeguard national interests and strengthen security efforts in the region.”
The SOVFA is expected to lead to larger joint exercises, most notably in the South China Sea where confrontations between the Philippines and China have increased in the last few years. Canada joins the US, Australia and Japan in similar agreements.
About the Author
Rachel Ramos-Reid started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings.
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