Amid rising regional tensions, New Zealand and the Philippines are set to sign a significant military agreement this week aimed at enhancing bilateral defense cooperation.
The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) marks a pivotal step in fostering closer military ties between the two nations, said New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins in a news release Monday.
Minister Collins will travel to the Philippines to formalize the agreement, which “formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities, and exercises in each of our territories.”
The agreement builds upon a commitment made by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the NZ leader’s visit to Manila in 2024. The treaty now moves to the Philippine Senate for final ratification.
Collins’s visit comes at a time of increasing regional insecurity, particularly due to China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. The SOVFA is part of broader efforts by New Zealand and the Philippines to strengthen their security ties amid these rising tensions.
“We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,” Collins said.
During her visit, Collins will meet with President Marcos and hold a bilateral meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro to discuss further defense collaboration.
This new agreement is a step forward in enhancing military cooperation and includes provisions for joint exercises and visits by each country’s armed forces. The SOVFA supplements previous defense agreements, such as the 2024 Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the 2012 Defense Cooperation Arrangement, and reflects both countries’ shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
New Zealand has similar defense cooperation agreements with several Pacific nations, including a recent one signed with Fiji in 2023, underscoring the country’s commitment to regional security and international cooperation.
Collins is scheduled to return to New Zealand on May 2, following the conclusion of her visit.
