Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their counterparts from the United States military join the opening of the 39th iteration of Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 22, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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BALIKATAN 2024

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has approved the start of a negotiation between the Philippines and France to enter into a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro disclosed in a press release Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/10/france-poised-to-have-military-exercise-with-ph-says-official-1725">France poised to have military exercise with PH, says official</a></div><p>&quot;We also have received from his excellency, the President, the authority to negotiate a Visiting Forces Agreement with France and other countries are coming and joining the bandwagon,&quot; said Teodoro, referring Marcos Jr.</p><p>Teodoro made the announcement during the celebration of the 49th foundation anniversary of the AFP Western Command in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.</p><p>The DND also announced the conclusion of Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with New Zealand and Canada last February 20 and March 7, respectively.</p><p>Teodoro said the agreement with New Zealand will be signed next month.</p><p>Teodoro is also due to meet with visiting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.</p><p>&quot;In a few days, my counterpart, the honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America will be paying a visit to the president and to myself where we will discuss ways to enhance our bilateral and trilateral and squad partnership,&quot; said Teodoro.</p><p>Philippines has signed VFAs with United States (Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 1998), Australia (SOVFA signed in 2007), and Japan (Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in July last year).</p><p>The RAA with Japan was ratified by the Senate last December.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEVHKnjnRm8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has approved the start of a negotiation between the Philippines and France to enter into a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has approved the start of a negotiation between the Philippines and France to enter into a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Marcos OKs VFA talks between PH and France, says Teodoro

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Marcos OKs VFA talks between PH and France, says Teodoro

ABS-CBN News

Published March 24, 2025 07:12 PM PHT

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Updated March 24, 2025 07:13 PM PHT

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