Senate ratifies Philippines-France visiting forces agreement

The Senate on Thursday approved on third and final reading a resolution concurring in the ratification of the defense agreement between the Philippines and France that will provide a legal framework for visiting military forces from both countries.

Senate Resolution No. 650, which concurs in the ratification of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and France, was approved with 17 affirmative votes, with no negative votes or abstentions.

France will become the first European country to have a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, joining the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand as countries with defense access arrangements with Manila.

The PH-France SOVFA is a reciprocal agreement that establishes the legal framework governing the presence and activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and French Armed Forces, including their respective civilian components, in each other’s territories.

It also facilitates joint defense activities, military training, humanitarian operations, and other activities mutually agreed upon by the two countries.

The agreement seeks to boost the operational readiness and interoperability of the two countries’ armed forces “by facilitating the timely movement of personnel and resources and strengthening their capacity to coordinate and respond to security challenges, crises, and emergencies.”

“Next year, we will be celebrating 80 years of bilateral ties with France. Let our concurrence be a symbolic step towards a strengthened friendship with France and the European Union, and a concrete step forward towards stronger defense capabilities for the Philippines,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the measure’s author, said.

“As political conflicts continue to divide the world, it becomes more important that we form stronger alliances and ties with like-minded democracies such as France,” he added.

The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed the Senate’s approval, describing France as a reliable Philippine partner in upholding international law.

“France has been one of the reliable partners of the Philippines in upholding international law. As a maritime power, it is a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has consistently articulated support for and recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DND said.

The agency also highlighted France’s advanced defense capabilities, saying these could support the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its defense supply chains.

“France's consistent willingness to not only participate but also grow convergence across our shared domains makes it an indispensable partner of the Philippines,” the DND added.

The DND said it would continue to deepen defense cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen the Philippines’ deterrent capabilities and support regional and global resilience against actions that undermine the rules-based international order.

The 1987 Constitution prohibits foreign troops from establishing permanent military bases in the Philippines. Visiting forces agreements, however, provide a legal framework for the temporary presence of foreign military personnel for activities agreed upon by the countries involved.

The Philippines and the United States have a VFA that took effect in 1999, providing the legal framework for the temporary presence of US forces in the country for military exercises and humanitarian and disaster-response activities.

The Philippines also signed a similar agreement with Australia in 2007.

In April 2025, the Philippines and New Zealand signed their SOVFA. — VBL, GMA News