PH, Canada sign visiting forces agreement

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Canada signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) on Sunday, with the defense ministers of both countries committing to deter instability and uphold order in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Minister of National Defense David McGuinty signed the agreement in Makati City following their bilateral meeting.

The SOVFA with the Philippines is Canada’s first in the Indo-Pacific.

The agreement provides a legal framework for joint military activities, allowing the armed forces of both countries to enhance cooperation. It governs the presence of foreign troops in the Philippines during exercises, training, or other activities.

The SOVFA requires ratification by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and approval by two-thirds of the Senate before it takes effect. With this, Canada becomes the fifth country with which the Philippines has a VFA.

The Philippines also has SOVFAs with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan—the latter known as the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)—as well as a longstanding VFA with the United States. Negotiations are ongoing for a similar security deal with France.

When asked how the SOVFA with Canada differs from agreements with other allies, Teodoro said it reflects the “specific specializations and distinct experiences each country’s military brings.”

“We have much to learn and much to converge on with Canada, distinct from Australia and the other countries we have agreements with, but we will converge in upholding the rules-based international order,” he added.

During a joint press briefing, Teodoro said the SOVFA would strengthen internal resilience through military exchanges and information-sharing while providing protection to both Manila and Ottawa from external threats.

“[It] provides a legal shield against forces that may seek to disrupt our way of life, peace, stability, and security,” he said, without naming any country.

“More importantly, [it provides] a framework to predict, prevent, or respond to future threats that may emerge,” he added.

McGuinty said Ottawa strengthened its security cooperation with Manila due to their shared “common perspective on the world.”

“Peace is built on rules, not recklessness, and stability grows from cooperation, not confrontation. The Philippines has shown true leadership in upholding international law and seeking peaceful dispute resolution,” he said.

“For that, you have Canada’s greatest respect,” he added. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with a country that acts courageously on these values, not just in words, but through dedicated work toward regional peace and security.”

The SOVFA comes as the Philippines expands its network of security alliances in response to growing provocations by Beijing in the West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

According to Teodoro, the agreement reflects the “trust and confidence” between nations that can work together bilaterally and with like-minded partners “to preserve and enforce peace and stability and deter instability.”

The DND chief also responded to a Chinese military spokesperson’s recent remark calling the Philippines a “troublemaker in the South China Sea” for conducting maritime drills with the US, New Zealand, and Australia on Oct. 30–31.

Teodoro said the statement highlights China’s disregard for international law and reinforces the need for such activities.

“So are they saying they own the area or have exclusive jurisdiction and sovereignty over the high seas and airspace? If China feels it is an intrusion, we refute that,” he said.

McGuinty added that Canada looks forward to participating with the Philippines and other partners in exercises in the West Philippine Sea to improve regional stability.

“Canada remains resolute in support of Filipino sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is something we fully recognize,” he said. /mcm