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PH hopes to seal visiting forces deal with New Zealand this 2025

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
February 5, 2025, 7:57 am

MANILA -- The Philippines is hoping to conclude talks on a visiting forces deal with New Zealand by the end of 2025, said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Tuesday night.

In a chance interview at the Waitangi Day Reception in Makati City, the official said the government is focusing its attention on the negotiation after successfully ratifying a similar deal with Japan.

The most optimistic timeline for the capping of talks, he said, is "within the first semester of the year".

The first round of negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the two states commenced last month.

"We are now on a phase of alliance-building, strengthening alliance. So, the SOVFA is an important part of both countries and multilateral countries' initiative to resist China's unilateral narrative to change international law," Teodoro said.

"The VFA with New Zealand will be very important for us for that purpose, and secondly, for disaster risk reduction purposes and humanitarian assistance and disaster response," he added.

As an archipelago, Teodoro said the Philippines would need "as much mobility assistance as possible," especially in bringing goods to far flung islands.

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh said Wellington, for its part, has a "strong political commitment" to signing the agreement and also looks forward to concluding the talks "as soon as possible".

Once sealed, the envoy said the deal would mark a huge change in the two nations' bilateral military relationship and demonstrate "New Zealand's commitment to the region".

The SOVFA will enable both countries' armed forces to elevate their cooperative actvities and conduct exercises in each other's territories, deepening overall defense and military cooperation.

Last year, New Zealand joined the Philippine-led multilateral maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea, which has witnessed increased Chinese presence over the past weeks.

"We are deeply concerned by the current developments in the West Philippine Sea and New Zealand has been consistent in our messages around de-escalation of tensions," McIntosh said.

"We encourage all countries that are in dispute to resolve matters peacefully, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," she added.

On top of defense, the Philippines and New Zealand are also looking to increase cooperation across a broad range of areas, including trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two governments are working to elevate the Philippine-New Zealand ties into a comprehensive partnership ahead of their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. (PNA)