ISTANBUL — Canada on Sunday became the fifth nation to formalize a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, marking a significant expansion of military cooperation between the two countries amid rising regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) was signed in Makati City, a financial hub in metropolitan Manila, by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty. The ceremony followed a bilateral meeting focused on deepening defense ties and addressing shared security challenges.
The pact allows for the reciprocal deployment of military personnel on each other's territory for joint exercises, training, humanitarian operations, and other cooperative activities. It establishes legal frameworks governing the status of visiting forces, including jurisdiction over crimes committed by personnel, entry and exit procedures, and the carrying of arms. Such agreements are critical for enabling seamless military interoperability without the need for ad-hoc negotiations for every engagement.
"This agreement will make the robustness of our information-sharing and people-to-people ties enduring," Teodoro stated during the signing, as reported by Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN. He emphasized the strategic importance of the deal in enhancing collaboration on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and cyber defense. "We can contribute not only to our individual security but also to collective peace and stability in the region," Teodoro added, implicitly referencing efforts to counter unilateral actions that challenge international norms, particularly in the South China Sea, which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
McGuinty echoed these sentiments, describing the SOVFA as a milestone that "will bring our countries closer together at a time when the world needs it most." He highlighted that this is Canada's inaugural visiting forces agreement with an Asian nation, underscoring Ottawa's growing commitment to the Indo-Pacific strategy. Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in 2022, prioritizes diversifying partnerships in the region to promote a rules-based order, economic resilience, and security cooperation.
The timing of the signing is noteworthy. It occurred just days after the conclusion of a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, involving naval forces from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and—for the first time—New Zealand. The exercise, conducted from October 28 to November 1, 2025, included communication drills, division tactics, and photo exercises aimed at improving interoperability among like-minded partners. While Canada did not participate in this specific MMCA, its new agreement with the Philippines positions it to potentially join future iterations or bilateral drills.
This SOVFA is the Philippines' fifth such accord. The first was the Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), signed in 1998 and entering into force in 1999, which has underpinned decades of joint military exercises like Balikatan. Australia followed with a similar agreement in 2007, formalized as the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in 2012. Japan signed its version in July 2024 during a state visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Tokyo, enabling reciprocal access for troops. New Zealand inked its pact in April 2025, further solidifying a network of alliances in the region.
The proliferation of these agreements reflects Manila's proactive "friends to all" foreign policy under the Marcos administration, which seeks to bolster deterrence against China's assertive claims in the South China Sea without alienating Beijing entirely. The Philippines has won key arbitral rulings, such as the 2016 Hague tribunal decision invalidating China's nine-dash line, but faces ongoing incursions by Chinese vessels. By expanding its web of defense pacts, the Philippines aims to create a deterrent lattice that complicates any potential aggression.
For Canada, the agreement aligns with its broader geopolitical pivot. Ottawa has increasingly voiced concerns over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and has conducted freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) through the waterway. In 2023, Canadian warships transited the Taiwan Strait alongside U.S. vessels, drawing protests from China. The SOVFA opens doors for Canadian forces to train in Philippine facilities, participate in HADR missions—given the archipelago's vulnerability to typhoons and earthquakes—and contribute to capacity-building in areas like cybersecurity, where both nations face threats from state-sponsored actors.
Analysts view this development as part of a minilateral trend in the Indo-Pacific, where middle powers like Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand complement U.S.-led alliances such as AUKUS and the Quad. "Canada's entry into this framework enhances the credibility of collective security without escalating to formal alliances," said Dr. Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, in an interview with local media. She noted that the pact could facilitate Canadian involvement in monitoring gray-zone tactics, such as militia vessel swarms.
The signing ceremony took place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati, attended by senior military officials from both sides, including Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre. Discussions reportedly covered potential joint exercises in 2026, focusing on maritime domain awareness and disaster response. Canada has prior experience in HADR in the Philippines; following Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, Canadian forces deployed under Operation Renaissance, providing aid to affected communities.
Economically, the two nations enjoy strong ties, with bilateral trade reaching approximately CAD 2.5 billion in 2024. Canada is home to over 900,000 Filipino-Canadians, fostering deep cultural links. Defense cooperation builds on this foundation; the Philippines has procured Canadian-made helicopters and surveillance equipment in recent years.
However, the agreement is not without domestic scrutiny in the Philippines. Progressive groups, such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), have historically opposed VFAs, arguing they infringe on sovereignty and risk entangling the country in foreign conflicts. Teodoro addressed these concerns by stating that the SOVFA includes safeguards ensuring Philippine jurisdiction over its territory and personnel.
On the Canadian side, the pact required parliamentary oversight but faced minimal opposition, given bipartisan support for Indo-Pacific engagement. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has allocated increased funding for defense, including naval assets suited for distant operations.
Looking ahead, the SOVFA could pave the way for trilateral or quadrilateral exercises involving Canada, the Philippines, and mutual partners like the U.S. and Japan. It also signals Ottawa's intent to play a more active role in regional stability, countering perceptions of Canada as a peripheral player in Asian security.
In a joint statement, Teodoro and McGuinty affirmed their commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and peaceful dispute resolution. "This agreement resists attempts to redefine norms for the selfish advantage of powerful countries," Teodoro reiterated, a clear nod to ongoing maritime disputes.
As the Indo-Pacific becomes a focal point of great-power competition, this Canada-Philippines pact exemplifies how bilateral agreements can contribute to a free and open region. With implementation set to begin following ratification processes—expected within months—the two nations are poised to operationalize their enhanced partnership, starting with planning for joint activities in the coming year.
The signing in Makati underscores a shared vision: security through cooperation, resilience through partnership. For the Philippines, it adds another pillar to its defense architecture. For Canada, it marks a bold step into Asia's strategic landscape. As McGuinty concluded, "This is not just an agreement on paper; it's a commitment to stand together."
