EU, PH in talks for 'modalities,' deal to boost defense cooperation
Philippine News Agency
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
November 12, 2025, 6:35 pm
MANILA - The European Union (EU) and the Philippines are in talks for a possible deal or "modalities" that would increase their defense cooperation, said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro on Wednesday.
"We are working on, indeed, an enhancement of our cooperation—this domain mentioned, both training and even, let's say, specific possibility of providing with concrete equipment, etc," he told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at a Stratbase ADR Institute Forum in Makati City on Wednesday.
"The two sides are discussing this. I wouldn't say we are signing at this stage, we are still preparing," he added.
At present, the EU has eight security and defense partnerships, including with Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Norway.
Each deal is tailored to each partner and covers different areas of cooperation from peace and conflict prevention to defense capabilities, among others.
Between the Philippines and the EU, the envoy said specifics are "still too early" to identify, but the direction the two parties are pursuing is "to arrive at some kind of instrument that can contribute to increasing" the defense cooperation.
"It's more of a mechanism. It's different than what EU member states have bilaterally. Ours is a European framework. So, an agreement as such, but it's modalities for enhancing cooperation," he explained.
Santoro said this intent for increased interaction with Manila is part of the EU's broader push to invest in the stability of the Asia-Pacific, specifically the Southeast Asian region.
"The Philippines is a particularly like-minded partner when it comes to security, defense, and international rules-based order. This is why I think that it's important to continue investing with and together with partners who sees things like we do," he said.
On Nov. 25, the EU and the Philippines will convene their inaugural defense and security dialogue in Brussels. (PNA)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
