Canada and the Philippines have officially signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), marking a major step forward in defense cooperation between both nations.

The agreement, signed on Sunday in Manila by Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, builds on the Defense Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding established in January 2024.

McGuinty described the SOVFA as “a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between our two nations, built on more than 75 years of diplomatic ties.”

The Philippines, one of Canada’s key defense partners in the Indo-Pacific region, will now engage more closely with Canadian forces in joint and multinational operations, military exercises, and defense training under the new framework.

According to Ottawa, the agreement underscores both countries’ shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, and respect for international law in Southeast Asia. It also aligns with Canada’s growing engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states.

The Philippine government hailed the pact as a reflection of its deepening relations with allied democracies, noting that it will enhance military interoperability, disaster response coordination, and regional security cooperation.

The new SOVFA makes Canada the fifth country to sign such a defense accord with the Philippines, following the United States (1998), Australia (2007), Japan (2024), and New Zealand (April 2025).

Defense analysts view the move as part of Canada’s broader effort to expand its strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific, amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.