Canada Aims to Finalize Defense Agreement with Philippines Soon

MANILA — The Canadian government is pushing to quickly finalize the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SoVFA) with the Philippines, according to statements made by the Canadian Ambassador in Manila, David Hartman, aboard the HMCS Montreal.

According to Philippines News Agency, Canada and the Philippines are making significant progress in their negotiations, having already exchanged texts and drafts of the defense pact. He expressed optimism about concluding the talks in the near future, citing a strong foundational relationship between the two nations that should expedite the process. “We’re much more optimistic that we will be able to conclude far more quickly, and we really are hoping to advance in the coming months,” Hartman remarked.

The potential agreement, inspired by similar pacts between the Philippines and other nations such as Japan, aims to enhance military cooperation and streamline the operations of visiting forces. Hartman noted the existing agreements as a basis for quick resolution of any outstanding issues, maintaining an optimistic outlook for an announcement possibly within the next few months.

This diplomatic push follows several recent engagements between Canada and the Philippines, including a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation signed in January 2024 and a 2023 arrangement that allowed the Philippines to utilize Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection system to tackle illegal fishing activities. These initiatives underscore the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, which Hartman described as having strong geostrategic, geoeconomic, and familial ties.

Hartman emphasized Canada’s commitment to strengthening this bilateral relationship, highlighting the unique familial connections that enrich the partnership between the two nations. “We cannot be any more clear to the government of the Philippines how wedded we are to this relationship, how committed we are to this relationship,” he concluded.