Mandaluyong city: Senior defense officials from the Philippines and France convened on Wednesday to deliberate on the upcoming military exercises for 2026, as well as other current and emerging areas of collaboration.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the 5th Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) Meeting in Mandaluyong City, the two nations reviewed activities such as the Multinational Exercise MARARA 2026, Exercise Balikatan 2026, and Exercise SAMASAMA 2026. The participation in these exercises signifies the deepening and sustained defense partnership between the Philippines and France, as stated by Department of Defense (DND) spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong.
The JDCC discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of cooperation areas, including exchanges on Indo-Pacific security developments, focusing on Pacific Island clusters, the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, critical undersea infrastructures, ongoing minilateral initiatives, and broader regional strategic issues.
DND Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Marita Yoro, who led the Philippine delegation, noted the substantial progress in bilateral defense cooperation since the last JDCC in 2024. She pointed out the French Navy's involvement in Exercise Balikatan 2024, several port visits to the Philippines, and the initiation of the first round of negotiations on the proposed Philippines-France Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in Paris in June. Yoro emphasized the importance of the SOVFA in creating a clear legal framework to support joint military endeavors.
These advancements align with the 2023 Letter of Intent aimed at bolstering defense ties between the Philippines and France. Joined by other DND and Philippine military officials during the meeting, Yoro reiterated the Philippines' view of France as a like-minded ally in promoting regional stability and upholding a rules-based international order.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Jerome Theillier, head of International Security Affairs of the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy, Ministry of the Armed Forces of France, reaffirmed France's enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized its role as a reliable partner and credible security provider alongside its regional counterparts.
