Manila: The first round of formal negotiations for the proposed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and the United Kingdom has formally started, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced Thursday night.
According to Philippines News Agency, the negotiations highlighted the "shared commitment of both partner nations in bolstering cross-regional defense cooperation and upholding rules-based international order," underscoring the strengthening partnership between the Philippines and the UK in defense relations and cooperation. The Philippine negotiating panel was led by Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Resource Management Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., while the UK panel was headed by Amy Senior, Head of Indo-Pacific at the UK's Ministry of Defence.
Discussions primarily focused on enhancing strategic defense initiatives and improving interoperability between the armed forces of the Philippines and the UK. This dialogue reinforces the mutual commitment to regional peace and security through adherence to the rule of law. Mison emphasized the value of the UK's support as a like-minded partner in maintaining the rules-based international order and safeguarding freedoms outlined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Currently, the Philippines maintains SOVFAs or similar agreements with nations such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, and has a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan.
In related developments, the Philippines advocated for openness and consensus during the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting-Plus (ADSOM-Plus). DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio Madriaga, serving as the ADSOM-Plus chair, led the virtual meeting with senior defense officials from ASEAN Member States and Plus Countries. He stressed the importance of fostering practical defense cooperation in areas of shared interest, urging participants to devise creative solutions to differences.
Madriaga called for openness to ideas and flexibility in negotiations, aligning with the ADMM-Plus principles of ASEAN centrality, consensus-building, inclusivity, and collective responsibility. He highlighted the importance of ASEAN Centrality and autonomy in shaping a forward-looking regional security architecture, advocating for respect for international law and peaceful management of disputes.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of cooperation under the ADMM-Plus framework, including updates on ongoing activities of its Experts' Working Groups (EWGs) and preparations for future practical cooperation cycles.
