Philippines, New Zealand begin negotiations for visiting forces agreement

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The Philippines and New Zealand have officially commenced negotiations for the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). The first round of talks took place on January 23, 2025, in Manila, led by Department of National Defence (DND) Undersecretary Pablo M. Lorenzo and Ministry of Defence (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce.

The Philippine delegation included Department of Justice Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez and Dennis Arvin Chan, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau and Patrick Chuasoto, and DND Assistant Secretary Erik Lawrence Dy. New Zealand’s delegation featured Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, and a MoD analyst, with additional members participating virtually.

This initial round marked a significant step in enhancing bilateral defense ties. A commitment to finalize a SOVFA was among the key outcomes from discussions between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s visit to Manila in April 2024. The SOVFA will strengthen the 2017 Memorandum of Arrangement on Defense Cooperation between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the MoD of New Zealand. It will enable both nations’ armed forces to conduct joint exercises and cooperative activities within each other’s territories.

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The successful conclusion of this agreement will be a milestone in the Philippines-New Zealand relationship, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026.

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