Munich: The Philippines and Italy have solidified a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement after over a year of review, as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
According to Philippines News Agency, the new deal replaces a previously expired memorandum of understanding. Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial highlighted that the agreement includes provisions on procurement, defense co-production, and logistics and technology collaboration. He expressed that the embassy welcomes this development, viewing it as an elevation of the political and security partnership between the two nations.
Imperial further emphasized Italy's commitment to engaging with strategic countries in the Indo-Pacific region, noting the significance of defense cooperation. While he deferred to the Department of National Defense on the specifics of Italian participation in Philippines-led initiatives in the West Philippine Sea, the agreement is seen as a step forward in reinforcing maritime security.
Italy's engagement in the Indo-Pacific is anchored on a 2021 European Union Strategy aimed at fostering closer relations with nations in the region. The strategy supports creating a free, open, and rules-based environment. Italy has reiterated its dedication to maritime security and the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in resolving territorial and maritime disputes.
The UNCLOS serves as the foundation for the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China's extensive claims in the South China Sea. Looking ahead to 2024, Minister Crosetto underscored the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, equating its significance to that of the Mediterranean, and stressed the need to mitigate tensions to prevent armed conflict.
