By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
Defense chiefs of the Philippines and France formally signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the two nations, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced on Friday.
DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin signed the pact during their bilateral meeting in Paris on Thursday (local time).
“We signed the SOVFA between the Philippines and France only one year after his Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., authorized us to begin negotiations on this treaty and we signed it today on his expressed instructions to expedite matters given his realization of the importance of our two countries’ relationships and with the Philippines and the rest of Europe,” Teodoro said in his speech.
He said the agreement was signed in record time as the two nations “had years of trust and confidence in working and dealing with one another.”
“And we have shared values, shared objectives, and shared visions for both our future generations and the current generations. So, this is a function of stewardship in several things, in enhancing both our individual and collective defense capabilities,” he said.
Teodoro also called the SOVFA a manifestation of the need for cross-regional cooperation in security and defense.
“And it is a celebration of convergence. And by convergence, we do not necessarily mean combined operations of Philippine troops and French troops in one area. But both of us, perhaps even working separately in areas where we have capabilities and influence for a shared goal and purpose,” he said.
Teodoro thanked the people of France, on behalf of all Filipinos, for the signing of the SOVFA, which he said is the “most expressive symbol of our sovereignties and the symbol of trust” aimed at working together to make the world a better place for future generations.
“And lastly, it is a recognition of the contributions of our people to each other’s countries. And a commitment that we will work together to safeguard their safety and well-being wherever they may be, whether in France or in the Philippines or wherever where we can both help each other,” he added.
A joint statement, meanwhile, said the two ministers discussed current regional security issues in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East/ South-West Asia and Europe, underscoring the importance of multilateralism and a rules-based international order and calling for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the strengthening of supply chain resilience in the context of crisis.
Both sides expressed adherence to the spirit and provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its primacy, as well as the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.
The Philippines also welcomed France’s rapprochement towards ASEAN and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), pointing out the very valuable participation of French representatives in the expert working groups on humanitarian assistance and disaster response and maritime security.
Both sides welcomed the fruitful dynamic of interactions between France and the Philippines, guided by the December 2023 Letter of Intent on strengthening the bilateral defense relationship.
“Secretary Teodoro and Minister Vautrin acknowledged the positive development of the cooperation, demonstrated by the regular convening of the bilateral defense dialogues, visits by defense and armed forces delegations, regular educational exchanges, port visits and aerial stopovers, as well as naval and disaster response training activities,” the DND said.
Teodoro and Vautrin reaffirmed their determination for a stronger long-term partnership and the common will to pursue the objectives of the December 2023 Letter of Intent, especially regarding the legal framework of the defense relationship. (PNA)
