Philippines-Canada Sign Troop Agreement, Strengthen Defense Cooperation

JAKARTA - The Philippines and Canada will sign a Visit Forces Status Agreement (SOVFA) after negotiations aimed at increasing defense and security cooperation between the two countries.

Manila's Defense Ministry said the agreement would establish a framework for increased military and defense cooperation and collaboration between the two countries and increasing interoperability between the forces of the two countries.

"The Philippines is looking forward to a positive impact on SOVFA, which is expected to contribute to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region," the Philippine ministry said.

Canada has supported the Philippines' stance in the South China Sea, in support of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration which states that China's claim to the vast South China Sea has no legal basis. China rejected these findings.

In 2023, the Philippines and Canada signed a setup for the use of the Ottawa Dark Ship Detection system to combat illegal fishing, not reported, and not regulated by ships that have turned off their location transmitters to avoid detection.

Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the Philippines is expanding its security partnership while maintaining its long-term alliance with allied US agreements.

Last month, the Philippines completed similar negotiations with New Zealand and the two countries hope to sign an official agreement in the second quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, last year, the Philippines ratified a reciprocal access agreement with Japan, the first of its types signed by Tokyo in Asia, which would allow their military to be deployed in their respective regions.