Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774422383599Screen Shot 2026-03-25 at 10.40.10 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Flag of France. <em>📷༘ Anthony Choren, Unsplash</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and France are moving closer to finalizing a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), as both countries push to strengthen defense ties, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/11/ph-france-end-2nd-round-of-visiting-forces-agreement-talks-2027">PH, France end 2nd round of visiting forces agreement talks</a></div><p>Brawner said discussions are ongoing with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. currently in France to help move discussions forward.</p><p>“Probably very close. The Secretary of National Defense is in France right now, attending the defense forum, and they’re going to try to push forward. They’re going to try to push forward the VFA with France,” the military chief told reporters in an interview on Tuesday.</p><p>He added that both sides are keen to seal the agreement.</p><p>“Pareho tayo. We’re both eager. Both countries are eager. It’s just the process that we have to go through,” Brawner said.</p><p>The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday said Manila and Paris will work to deepen their bilateral partnership and cross-regional convergence during the defense ministerial meeting of Teodoro and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin on the sidelines of the 2026 Paris Defense and Strategy Forum on March 24 to 26.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/24/marcos-oks-vfa-talks-between-ph-and-france-1913"> Marcos OKs VFA talks between PH and France, says Teodoro</a></div><p>According to the DND, the two countries concluded formal negotiations in December for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA)—the Philippines’ first such deal with a European partner.</p><p>Upon entry into force, the SOVFA will establish the legal framework governing the presence and activities of Filipino and French troops in each other’s territories, allowing the conduct of more military trainings and engagements.</p><p>The Philippines’ existing VFA with the United States, which took effect in 1999, enables American troops to participate in military drills and disaster response operations in the country. </p><p>Similar arrangements are also in place with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><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/6_PFUhonZJI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/995ttQyyc-c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said discussions are ongoing with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. currently in France to help move discussions forward.</p>

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said discussions are ongoing with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. currently in France to help move discussions forward.

Philippines, France 'very close' to sealing Visiting Forces Agreement–AFP chief

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Philippines, France 'very close' to sealing Visiting Forces Agreement–AFP chief

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 25, 2026 03:13 PM PHT

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Updated March 25, 2026 03:18 PM PHT

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Philippines

France

Visiting Forces Agreement

General Romeo Brawner Jr.

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