MANILA, March 7 (Reuters) – The Philippines and Canada are poised to sign a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) following negotiations focused on strengthening defense and security collaboration, as announced by Manila's defense ministry on Friday.
The agreement aims to establish a framework for increased military and defense cooperation between the two nations and enhance interoperability among their forces, according to a statement from the Philippines' defense ministry.
The ministry stated, "The Philippines anticipates the positive impact of the SOVFA, envisioned to contribute to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region," emphasizing it as a significant milestone in bilateral defense relations.
Canada has supported the Philippines' position in the South China Sea, notably endorsing a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating China's extensive claims in the area. China has disputed this ruling.
In 2023, the Philippines and Canada agreed on the utilization of Ottawa's Dark Vessel Detection system to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by vessels that disable their location transmitters to avoid detection.
Given escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the Philippines has expanded its security partnerships while upholding its enduring alliance with the United States.
Recently, similar negotiations were concluded with New Zealand, with both nations anticipating signing an official agreement in the second quarter of this year.
Notably, last year the Philippines ratified a defense pact with Japan, the first of its kind signed in Asia, enabling their militaries to deploy on each other's soil.