MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the Philippine government to begin discussions with France for a potential Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro announced the development, stating that other countries may also enter into similar agreements with the Philippines in the future.
"The President has given his approval, and this isn't limited to France—other nations may follow," Castro said in Filipino during a press briefing.
She emphasized that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would work on enhancing the compatibility between the armed forces of both countries. However, she did not specify which other nations were being considered for similar agreements.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro revealed that the Philippines had recently finalized Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFA) with New Zealand and Canada on February 20 and March 7, respectively.
"We welcome the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise on military operations," Castro added, noting that the DFA and the Department of National Defense (DND) would handle the specifics of the agreements.
Currently, the Philippines has existing VFAs with the United States (signed in 1998), Australia (SOVFA signed in 2007), and Japan (Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in July 2023). The Senate ratified the agreement with Japan in December of last year.
