Ched Rick Gatchalian

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Jr. with David Bruce Hartman, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines. Handout photo

Article (news)

PH, Canada conclude negotiations; set to sign defense agreement

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174134016100120240119-via-handout.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Jr. with David Bruce Hartman, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines. <em>Handout photo/FILE</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and Canada have concluded their negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) and are set to sign a deal, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday.</p><p>Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said that they were fast-tracking the negotiations with Canada, as well as France, as they see the need to train the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) together with other country&#x27;s military troops as &quot;the dimensions of conflict are changing&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/ph-eyes-to-finalize-defense-pacts-with-new-zealand-france-canada-1454">PH eyes to finalize defense pacts with New Zealand, France, Canada</a></div><p>Philippine DND USec. Angelito M. De Leon and Canada DND  Asst. Deputy Minister Scott Millar led the finalized negotiation, along with their delegations. Manila&#x27;s panel included Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces USec. Antonio Habulan Jr., DND Asst. Secretaries Marita Yoro, and Erik Lawrence Dy, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Asst. Secretaries Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga and Patrick Chuasoto and Officer-in-Charge Paulo Saret, and Department of Justice (DOJ) USec. Raul Vasquez and Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan.</p><p>The Canadian delegation meanwhile was composed of defense and global affairs representatives.</p><p>&quot;The Philippines looks forward to the positive impact of the SOVFA, which is expected to contribute to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The DND remains committed to working closely with international partners to safeguard national interests and strengthen security efforts in the region,&quot; the DND said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/9/canada-close-to-visiting-forces-deal-with-philippines-1256">Canada close to visiting forces deal with Philippines</a></div><p>Canada&#x27;s ambassador to Manila, David Hartman, said earlier that the agreement will enable the two countries &quot;to have deeper cooperation and more substantive participation in training to build capacity&quot;.</p><p>He also stated that it would allow future participation of Canadian military force in exercises held by the Philippines and the United States yearly.</p>

<p>The Philippines and Canada have concluded their negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) and are set to sign a deal, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday.</p>

The Philippines and Canada have concluded their negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) and are set to sign a deal, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday.

PH, Canada conclude talks, set to sign visiting forces agreement

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PH, Canada conclude talks, set to sign visiting forces agreement

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 07, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

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