The Philippines and New Zealand officially began negotiations for the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) on Jan. 23, 2025 hosted by the Philippine government in Manila. A SOVFA will reinforce the memorandum of arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the Ministry of Defense of New Zealand concerning Defence Cooperation, which was signed in 2017. (Photo courtesy of the DND)
The Department of National Defense (DND) announced Wednesday that the Philippines and New Zealand have officially launched negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), a move that is expected to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.
The initial round of discussions took place on January 23 in Manila, with high-ranking officials from both countries leading the talks. DND Undersecretary Pablo M. Lorenzo represented the Philippine delegation, while Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce headed the New Zealand delegation.
Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, and a defense analyst from the MoD joined Pearce, with additional New Zealand representatives participating virtually. The Philippine delegation included key officials from the Department of Justice, the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the DND.
Deepening defense ties
The negotiations mark a significant step forward in enhancing defense and security ties between the Philippines and New Zealand. The commitment to finalizing a SOVFA was a key outcome of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to Manila in April 2024, during which he and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to expand military collaboration.
A SOVFA would allow both nations’ armed forces to conduct joint exercises, training programs, and other cooperative activities on each other’s territory, enhancing interoperability and regional security coordination.
This new agreement will build upon the 2017 Memorandum of Arrangement on Defense Cooperation between the DND, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and New Zealand’s MoD.
That framework laid the groundwork for defense exchanges, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building programs. Still, the SOVFA would provide more explicit legal and operational guidelines for visiting military personnel from both countries.
A milestone in bilateral relations
The successful conclusion of a SOVFA would mark a significant milestone in Philippine-New Zealand relations, which will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2026. It reflects both nations’ commitment to regional peace, security, and mutual defense cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming months as both sides work toward finalizing a historic agreement to enhance security partnerships and defense interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.
