DEFENSE officials from the Philippines and the United Kingdom yesterday agreed to begin formal negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the two sides.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and visiting Lord Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom.
During the meeting, Coaker presented a letter from The Rt Hon John Healey MP, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, conveying the UK’s intent to enter into a SOVFA with the Philippines.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro thanked the UK for its interest in signing a SOVFA with the Philippines, noting that this initiative “demonstrates the growing convergence between Europe and the Indo-Pacific in upholding the rules-based international order.
“As a way forward, they agreed to undertake their respective internal processes and commence formal negotiations for the proposed SOVFA, which will enhance operational collaboration and interoperability between the Philippine and British Armed Forces,” said Andolong.
The Philippines has a standing SOVFA with Australia, a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, and a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan.
