DFA: PH, Canada negotiating visiting forces pact

Following similar statements from the Canadian envoy in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Tuesday that Canada and the Philippines are currently negotiating a pact that would further strengthen the two nations' defense capabilities.

In a statement, the DFA said a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) represents "an important development following the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Canada on January 19, 2024."

"The SOVFA further deepens our bilateral defense relations with Canada and our long-standing friendship with this country," the DFA said.

"The Philippines is committed to further strengthening our defense capabilities and our engagements with key defense partners support our national efforts," it added.

This developed after Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said Sunday that Canada and the Philippines are in the "final stages of negotiating the agreement" which would enable "deeper cooperation and substantive participation in training to build capacity."

Harman expressed optimism that the deal would be signed and ratified before the end of 2025.

The agreement would allow for future participation by Canadian troops in large-scale joint military exercises held yearly between the Philippines and the United States, Hartman said.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comments on the agreement.

On January 19, the Philippines and Canada signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.

Last year, the Philippines and Canada celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations amid ongoing harassment from the China Coast Guard towards various vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and other civilian ships operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

Canada has expressed its strong opposition to the actions of the China Coast Guard, including the ramming of Philippine vessels.

It has stated that these actions are inconsistent with China's obligations under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippines has similar visiting forces agreements with the United States and Japan. It also started negotiations for SOVFA with New Zealand and France. — VDV, GMA Integrated News