Manila: A ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official on Tuesday stated that the recently signed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with France demonstrates international support for the Philippines' commitment to a rules-based international order.
According to Philippines News Agency, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad highlighted the significance of this agreement during a media conference at Camp Aguinaldo. The Philippines now has similar agreements with six countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Trinidad emphasized that the SOVFA with France reflects international backing for the Philippines' stance on protecting the rules-based international order in the region.
Trinidad was unable to provide specific details regarding the scope and timeline of the agreement, noting that it had only been signed recently and that further work remains. He described it as a general framework agreement between the two nations.
The SOVFA was formally signed by Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin during a bilateral meeting in Paris on March 26. Teodoro remarked that the agreement was concluded in record time, attributing this to the years of trust and confidence between the two nations.
Teodoro further stated that the SOVFA underscores the necessity of cross-regional cooperation in security and defense.
