Philippines-Australia bilateral relations were elevated anew last week at President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s state visit that was highlighted by his Parliament speech, a historic first in nearly eight decades spanning the two countries’ robust relationship.

Three key agreements were signed: first, on enhanced maritime cooperation; second, on open and secure use of cyberspace; and third, on enforcement of laws and practices that promote competition. 

These agreements further enlarge and deepen the ties that date back to the early part of the last century. Over 4,000 Australian service personnel fought side by side with Filipino and Allied forces in World War II, and later joined the United States army and navy in the liberation of the Philippines in 1945. 

Since the two countries’ diplomatic relations were forged in 1946, people-to-people exchanges have thrived. Today, over 250,000 Filipinos call Australia home, making up its sixth largest migrant community. 

During the last two decades, the two countries have stepped up the pace and scope of their bilateral relations. In July 2012, the ratification of the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) provided a "more comprehensive legal framework for the presence of one country's forces in the other." This facilitated training in Australia for Philippine defense personnel and the deployment of Australian Defense Force assets and personnel to support the Typhoon Yolanda disaster relief operations in 2013. 
On Nov. 18, 2015, then Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed the Joint Declaration on Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership that enhanced cooperation and engagement on regional and international issues. 

Both countries reaffirmed the importance of engagement and cooperation in the political, defense and security, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism fields, among others. They also committed to conduct more "substantive and meaningful" activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defense Force to foster camaraderie and enhance interoperability. 

With the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZ) allowing for 95 percent of Australian products to enter the Philippines duty free while 97 percent of Philippine-made products can enter Australia with the same advantage, Australia has achieved huge trade surpluses. According to the OEC World report: “During 2021, Australia had a large net trade with Philippines in the exports of vegetable products ($750 million), mineral products ($503 million), and animal products ($262 million).” On the other hand, the “Philippines had a large net trade with Australia in the exports of machines ($239 million), metals ($76 million), and chemical products ($56.6 million).”

Supporting the Philippines’ basic education reform, Australia has established itself as a “partner of choice” in terms of providing teacher training and scholarships as well as in constructing disaster-resilient school buildings.

Expressing his gratitude to both Governor General David Hurley and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Marcos declared in his arrival statement: “In the spirit of bayanihan and mateship, we shall forge ahead in fully maximizing the potentials and the gains from this Strategic Partnership between our two forward-looking, law-abiding maritime states.”