spot_img
27.1 C
Philippines
Saturday, February 15, 2025
27.1 C
Philippines
Saturday, February 15, 2025

Philippines, New Zealand start negotiations on SOVFA

Estimated reading time: 1 minute and 38 seconds
16px

The Philippines and New Zealand have officially started negotiations for the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), the Department of National Defense (DND) announced Wednesday.

In a statement, the DND said the first round of talks took place in Manila last Jan. 23.

- Advertisement -

“(The talks were) hosted by the Philippine government in Manila, with DND Undersecretary Pablo M. Lorenzo and Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce leading the Philippine and New Zealand delegations, respectively,” it added.

The DND said the New Zealand delegation included Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, and an analyst from the MoD. Other members of the New Zealand delegation joined virtually.

Meanwhile, the Philippine delegation was composed of Department of Justice Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez and Dennis Arvin Chan, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau and Patrick Chuasoto, and DND Assistant Secretary Erik Lawrence Dy.

“The first round of negotiations marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and New Zealand. A commitment to conclude a SOVFA was among the key outcomes agreed between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s visit to Manila in April 2024,” the DND said.

The SOVFA will reinforce the memorandum of arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the MoD of New Zealand concerning Defence Cooperation, which was signed in 2017.

It will enable both countries’ armed forces to elevate their cooperative activities and conduct exercises in each other’s territories, deepening overall defense and military cooperation.

The DND said the successful conclusion of this agreement will be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, which would mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2026. With AFP

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Philippines and New Zealand in talks for defense pact.”

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles