South Korea is looking at the possibility of also signing a pact along the lines of a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, according to Korean Ambassador Lee Sang Hwa.
Lee disclosed this intention on the sidelines of an event aimed at enhancing collaboration between South Korea and the Philippines held Friday in Makati City.
The VFA is a type of treaty between nations that allows the presence of foreign military forces in the host country.
“The Korean side has been considering, has been giving a thought to the idea of a Visiting Forces Agreement. I’m not privy to the details of how it has been reviewed by the relevant authorities. That is, I think, on the table. So, let’s see how it goes,” Lee told reporters.
This development follows the recent signing of a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan in July, with South Korea potentially next in line to formalize a similar defense arrangement with Manila.
Lee emphasized his country’s commitment to strengthening its defense partnership with the Philippines, underscoring its pivotal role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
He noted the ongoing maritime dialogue between the two nations—South Korea’s only such engagement with an ASEAN country—as a promising indicator of their deepening defense cooperation.
“The maritime security, in the context of what’s been happening in the West Philippine Sea, will be discussed as one of the key regional issues. Likewise, we do expect a constructive discussion on how to address the increasing security threat coming from North Korea in the context of the Korean Peninsula,” Lee said.
“The essence of the point is, we do have a lot in common between our two countries. We do expect full support from our Filipino friends, and we will do the same,” he added.
For her part, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary and Spokesperson Teresita Daza affirmed the robust defense relationship between the Philippines and South Korea, that goes even way back to the Korean War.
Daza noted that South Korea has been instrumental in supplying essential military equipment, particularly in upgrading the Philippines’ naval capabilities.
“Both the Philippines and Korea are committed to freedom and democracy, to inclusive growth and a rules-based international order. The Philippines is glad to note the alignment in our position on peace and stability in the Pacific region, including in the South China Sea,” Daza said in a conference in Makati City.
