The Philippines and France will start in May the discussions on the possible exchange of troops between the two sides, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said.

Fontanel said the Philippines and France will take the opportunity to talk about a possible Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) when the two countries' cooperation and defense committees meet in Paris on May 20 to 21.

A letter of intent to begin such talks was already signed by both sides in December 2023, she added.

"So that was the perfect occasion to officially discuss the ways to negotiate the VFA," Fontanel said late Thursday afternoon during a briefing that discussed France's upcoming plans in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines currently has an active VFA with the United States that allows troops of both sides to train together to prepare against possible military and environmental threats.

Just like the US, France is a vocal supporter of the Philippines whenever the latter faces aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines and France have been bolstering their military alliance to ensure the rules-based international order amid threats at sea.

But Fontanel said both countries’ strengthening of alliance is not only driven by what is happening in the South China Sea.

“I have to say France and the Philippines do want to partner more in many aspects,” she said.

Those include defense and security, energy security, food security and maritime security, she added.

In this year’s iteration of the largest war games between the Philippines and the US, France joined for the first time as an observer, with a French navy ship joining the drills.

Asked about France’s possible participation in next year’s Balikatan Exercises, Fontanel said it will depend on the availability of the French vessels, which are roaming around the vast Indo-Pacific.

But she said France is “committed and we want to do more.”