THE Philippines and New Zealand are set to sign a key defense pact this week that will allow joint training exercises and more engagements between the two countries’ military forces.
The signing of the accord, called the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), according to the embassy of New Zealand in Manila, will happen during the visit of Defense Minister Judith Collins from April 28 to 30.
The embassy statement said Collins will sign the accord with her Filipino counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, on April 30.
“It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories,” the embassy said in a statement quoting Collins.
It added that her visit “highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners.”
The negotiation on the SOVFA with New Zealand was concluded last February.
The New Zealand statement also said Collins will meet with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and have a bilateral meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
An advisory from the Department of National Defense confirmed the meeting and said Collins and Teodoro will hold a joint press conference at a hotel in Makati City on Wednesday.
“Secretary Teodoro and Minister Collins will deliver statements, reaffirming their commitment to enhance collaboration and relations between New Zealand and the Philippines, including the signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement,” the advisory read.
The New Zealand statement said the SOVFA “is a treaty-level document that sets out the legal conditions for military cooperation between our countries, including the responsibilities and obligations on both sides.”
New Zealand has a number of similar agreements with other countries, the most recent of which was with Fiji, signed in 2023.
It said the SOVFA “builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defense cooperation,” namely the 2024 Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement and the 2012 Defence Cooperation Arrangement.
The statement quoted Collins as saying: “It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories.”
“The agreement follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr during Mr. Luxon’s visit to Manila last year,” added Collins.
Collins said New Zealand is committed to “reinvigorating” its security relationships with the Philippines and other regional partners to uphold the international rules-based order.”
The SOVFA signing will take place two months after the two countries concluded negotiations for the SOVFA.
The soon-to-be-signed agreement builds on the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement and the Defense Cooperation Arrangement inked between the two countries in 2024 and 2012, respectively.
“We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,” Collins said.
The Philippines has signed such agreements with the United States (Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 1998), Australia (SOVFA signed in 2007), and Japan (Reciprocal Access Agreement or RAA signed in July last year).
The Senate ratified the RAA with Japan last December. However, the agreement would have to be approved by the Japanese government’s National Diet to render it valid and binding.
The defense department is eyeing signing similar agreements with other countries, including Canada. Last month, the DND announced it had concluded negotiations for an SOVFA with Canada but there was still no word when the actual agreement would be signed.
The Philippines has also sought to upgrade its defense capability in the face of continuing aggressive actions by China in the West Philippine Sea.
Washington recently approved the sale of 20 F16 Block 70/72 Viper jets to Manila, as well as munitions and associated equipment, while the latter has also taken delivery recently of a missile-equipped frigate from South Korea, part of two units it has acquired under its military modernization program.
