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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider UK ready to start talks for possible VFA with Philippines — Gibo

UK ready to start talks for possible VFA with Philippines — Gibo

Published Sep 16, 2025 03:42 pm

At A Glance

  • The United Kingdom (UK) has formally signified its intent to start talks for a possible Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, and become the seventh country to have such a military set-up with the Asian nation.
Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN)
The United Kingdom (UK) has formally signified its intent to start talks for a possible Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, and become the seventh country to have such a military set-up with the Asian nation.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro on Tuesday, Sept. 16, announced during a Committee on Appropriations hearing on the agency's budget next year that he received a letter coming from his British counterpart, John Healey.
"Just this morning, I received an official letter from the Minister of Defence of the United Kingdom, informing us that they are willing, and able, and inviting us to begin discussions for a [VFA] with them," Teodoro said in the hearing.
VFA allows the exchange and joint training of militaries from both sides in preparation for possible military and environmental threats.
UK has been a vocal supporter of the Philippines in its assertion of sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and against China's incursive activities there.
Currently, the Philippines has an existing VFA with its long-time military ally, the United States (US), as well as with Australia. It has also a Reciprocal Access Agreement--an agreement similar to VFA--with Japan.
Meanwhile, there are also other countries in the pipeline for such similar pact, including New Zealand, France, and Canada.
"We see some synergies—a lot of synergies—between the United Kingdom and us because they have a smaller force, particularly their land force," Teodoro said.
"Their battlefield tactics and techniques are up to par, beyond the norm, and they are willing to also interconnect their maritime domains with the Indo Pacific area. So we have been subjected to strict operational security requirements, not only within the department, but with all our structures," he added.
Teodoro's announcement came six months after top diplomats from both sides met in Manila to sign an enhanced partnership framework to strengthen the two countries’ ties in the realms of politics, economics, consular services, climate change, and defense.
Following his meeting with former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Enrique Manalo and British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the Philippines and UK "are charting a new course for our relationship amidst a lot of global volatility".
“We are countries that are committed to international law. We are countries that are committed to the rules-based order. We are countries that take our obligations under the UN (United Nations) Charter seriously,” Lammy said.
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