MANILA, Philippine: The Philippines aims to establish reciprocal troop access agreements with Canada, France, New Zealand, and other nations, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced on Monday.
Speaking to ANC news channel, Teodoro expressed hope that these agreements could be finalized by next year. These pacts would enhance military interoperability, allowing the armed forces of these countries to operate within Philippine territory and vice-versa.
Teodoro emphasized that this arrangement is nearing the peak of a defensive alliance. Earlier this month, the Philippines and Japan signed a significant military pact permitting the deployment of forces on each other’s soil, in response to China’s assertive actions in the region.
Canada, France, and New Zealand have supported the Philippines’ claims within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, challenging China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea, which were dismissed by a 2016 Hague ruling.
