Manila and Ottawa have signed a new Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that will allow Canadian military personnel to participate in joint training and defense exercises in the Philippines. The move comes as China’s aggressive activities in the South China Sea continue to raise regional concerns.
The signing marks another milestone in the Philippines’ growing defense alliances aimed at bolstering regional security. The Royal Canadian Navy has already taken part in joint maritime patrols with U.S., Japanese, Australian, and Philippine naval forces in the disputed waterway, which Beijing claims almost entirely—despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidating those claims.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty emphasized that the VFA will enhance Canada’s defense cooperation with Manila while advancing its Indo-Pacific strategy centered on “a forward presence in the region.” He added that Canada aims to join the Balikatan exercises, an annual large-scale military drill held by the Philippines and the United States.
The Philippines, a key U.S. ally in Southeast Asia, has been actively pursuing similar defense agreements with other partners to counter Chinese maritime expansion. Alongside existing pacts with the United States, Japan, and Australia, Manila recently signed a VFA with New Zealand, and discussions are ongoing for a future agreement with France. The latest Canada-Philippines deal underscores a unified push for stronger Indo-Pacific defense collaboration.
