PH-France visiting forces deal 'moving forward'

The Philippines and France are working to advance a visiting forces agreement (VFA) as both countries aim to strengthen defense cooperation, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said Tuesday.

At an ambush interview during a Stratbase forum, Brawner said the discussions are ongoing while Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is attending a defense forum in France.

“Probably very close. The Secretary of National Defense is in France right now attending the defense forum and they're going to push forward. They're going to try to push forward the VFA with France,” he said.

“We're both eager. Both countries are eager. It's just the process that we have to go through,” he added.

On Tuesday the Department of National Defense (DND) said the two countries will further deepen their bilateral partnership and cross-regional convergence during a meeting between Teodoro and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin on the sidelines of the 2026 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum.

“The two countries in December last year concluded formal negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), the Philippines’ first with a European partner,” the DND said.

“The SOVFA, upon entry into force, will provide the legal framework to govern the presence and activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the French Armed Forces in each other's territories, allowing the conduct of more effective military training and engagements among partner nations,” it added.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops from establishing permanent military bases in the country. Through agreements like the VFA, foreign militaries may be allowed to enter the countries for activities.

The Philippines and the United States have a VFA that became effective in 1999 and now serves a legal framework that allows US forces to visit Manila temporarily for military exercises and give humanitarian and disaster-response assistance.

Manila had a similar deal with Australia that was signed in 2007.

In April 2025, the Philippines and New Zealand also signed their SOVFA.

The Philippines has expanded maritime and defense security cooperation with other countries in recent years amid tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea. —VAL, GMA Integrated News