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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH, New Zealand set in motion talks on 'visiting forces' deal

PH, New Zealand set in motion talks on 'visiting forces' deal

Published Jan 30, 2025 03:55 am

The Philippines and New Zealand have started negotiations for a possible Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), which will enhance the defense cooperation between the two armed forces, the New Zealand Embassy in Manila said.

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Members of the Philippine negotiating panel, composed of officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces (PCVF), meet the New Zealand panel for the inaugural round of formal negotiations. (Photo from the Embassy of New Zealand)

In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, Jan. 29, the embassy said that the start of the negotiations were led by Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo and Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce in Manila.

“A SOVFA will reinforce the Memorandum of Arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the MoD of New Zealand concerning Defence Cooperation, which was signed in 2017,” the statement read.

“It will enable both countries’ armed forces to elevate their cooperative activities and conduct exercises in each other’s territories, deepening overall defence and military cooperation,” it added.

The embassy furthered that this first round of negotiations “marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties” between the two countries.

The commitment to conclude talks on the SOVFA was one of the key outcomes of the meeting between President Marcos and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s visit to Manila in April 2024.

“The conclusion of this agreement will be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, as the two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2026,” the embassy said.

Aside from Lorenzo, also among the delegates from the Philippines were Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez and Dennis Arvin Chan, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau and Patrick Chuasoto, and DND Assistant Secretary Erik Lawrence Dy.

Delegates from New Zealand included New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, and an analyst from the MoD. Other members of the New Zealand delegation joined virtually.

Although the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops from establishing permanent military bases in the countries, they can conduct military exercises through agreements like the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which the Philippines has with the United States.

Similarly, the Philippines also entered into a deal with Australia in 2007 and last year, it signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan to allow the deployment of Japanese forces for joint drills in the Southeast Asia.

Under the agreement, military personnel from the Philippines are also allowed to enter Japan for joint combat training.

Related Tags

PH-New Zealand AFP Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA)
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