France to submit draft military interoperability deal with PH by end of September: envoy | ABS-CBN
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France to submit draft military interoperability deal with PH by end of September: envoy
Katrina Domingo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Sep 10, 2024 06:18 PM PHT
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Updated Sep 10, 2024 07:53 PM PHT

MANILA — France is expected to finish the first draft of its military interoperability agreement with the Philippines this month, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said on Tuesday.
MANILA — France is expected to finish the first draft of its military interoperability agreement with the Philippines this month, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said on Tuesday.
Manila and Paris “decided to enter into negotiations for Visiting Forces Agreement” in late July, the Ambassador told Palace reporters.
Manila and Paris “decided to enter into negotiations for Visiting Forces Agreement” in late July, the Ambassador told Palace reporters.
“It’s been agreed that France will be the one to issue the first draft by end of September,” she said.
“It’s been agreed that France will be the one to issue the first draft by end of September,” she said.
“As far as I know, the process has been going on well. It’s in our hands, it’s in Paris,” she said.
“As far as I know, the process has been going on well. It’s in our hands, it’s in Paris,” she said.
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While there is not set timetable to produce the final text, Fontanel noted that they “all get inspired by the example of the Japanese Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that was signed within 8 months.”
While there is not set timetable to produce the final text, Fontanel noted that they “all get inspired by the example of the Japanese Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that was signed within 8 months.”
The RAA is an agreement that serves as the legal basis for Filipino and Japanese troops to operate within each other’s territories for military exercises.
The RAA is an agreement that serves as the legal basis for Filipino and Japanese troops to operate within each other’s territories for military exercises.
In July, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ANC that Manila is set to ink several RAA-like agreements with several countries including France, Canada and New Zealand.
In July, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ANC that Manila is set to ink several RAA-like agreements with several countries including France, Canada and New Zealand.
“We are going to work on an RAA hopefully with Canada, France, with New Zealand, and with other countries that escaped my memory at this time,” Teodoro said.
“We are going to work on an RAA hopefully with Canada, France, with New Zealand, and with other countries that escaped my memory at this time,” Teodoro said.
“We are also looking at closer relationships with the United Kingdom who has expressed a lot of interest in working with us,” he added.
“We are also looking at closer relationships with the United Kingdom who has expressed a lot of interest in working with us,” he added.
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Having a similar military deal with the Philippines is important for France, Fontanel said, noting that they also have territories in the Pacific, and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Having a similar military deal with the Philippines is important for France, Fontanel said, noting that they also have territories in the Pacific, and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
“We have a strategy of the Indo-Pacific and it’s important to continue having partners in the region, particularly where we can ensure that we have access for our Armed Forces,” she said.
“We have a strategy of the Indo-Pacific and it’s important to continue having partners in the region, particularly where we can ensure that we have access for our Armed Forces,” she said.
Several countries have been forging closer ties with the Philippines as China continues to assert ownership over nearly the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claim.
Several countries have been forging closer ties with the Philippines as China continues to assert ownership over nearly the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claim.
The Philippines — under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — has been vocal in condemning China’s incursions and aggressive maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea that falls within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines — under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — has been vocal in condemning China’s incursions and aggressive maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea that falls within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
So far, Manila has forged RAAs with Japan and Australia, and a Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States.
So far, Manila has forged RAAs with Japan and Australia, and a Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States.
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