The Republic of the Philippines and Canada formally signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (hereinafter: VFA) on 2 November 2025. This bilateral defence pact is designed to deepen military cooperation between the two nations by establishing the legal framework necessary for their forces to operate within each other’s territories. The agreement’s signing occurs amid persistent security challenges in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has been involved in maritime disputes. The VFA is viewed by both states as a strategic mechanism to enhance military capabilities and act as a deterrent in the Asia-Pacific region (Al Jazeera).
Details of the Visiting Forces Agreement
Establishing Legal and Operational Frameworks
The VFA signed by the Philippines and Canada provides the institutional framework that governs the conduct and legal jurisdiction over military personnel from one state while they are temporarily located in the territory of the other. As reported by UNN, the pact allows for the deployment of troops and defence assets for joint training exercises, port visits and disaster relief operations. This framework is essential for conducting complex, bilateral military operations, ensuring clarity on issues such as criminal jurisdiction, entry and exit procedures and the wearing of uniforms. The VFA is considered a prerequisite for significantly expanding the depth and frequency of bilateral defence activities.
The agreement allows Canadian forces to increase their presence and training activities in the Philippines, contributing to the development of the Philippine military’s operational capabilities. Conversely, it provides the Philippine military with reciprocal access to Canadian facilities and expertise, particularly in areas such as maritime domain awareness and search and rescue operations. This institutionalisation of military movement is a core component of the defence pact.
Strategic Intent: South China Sea Deterrence
The signing of the VFA is viewed explicitly through the lens of heightened security tensions in the South China Sea. Al Jazeera and China Global South both reported that the deal is intended to act as a deterrence measure against the increasing assertiveness of the People’s Republic of China in the disputed maritime area. The Philippines has been engaged in a long-standing territorial dispute with China over features in the South China Sea, which has recently included confrontations over supply missions and the deployment of naval assets.
By signing the VFA, the Philippines is effectively broadening its network of security partners beyond its traditional alliance with the United States of America. Canada, while geographically distant, is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and a significant contributor to the international order. Its formal military presence and cooperation, facilitated by the VFA, increase the multilateral security engagement surrounding the South China Sea, thereby raising the institutional cost of unilateral actions in the region. This defence pact directly enhances the Philippines’ institutional capacity to address maritime security challenges.
Concluding Forecast
The signing of the VFA between the Philippines and Canada is an institutional step that formalises a closer defence relationship, with immediate implications for the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific. With the signed agreement, both states signal their antagonistic stance against China’s maritime policy clearly. Although the agreement does not hold the potential to successfully deter China, it does add to the capacity-building of both states in the long run.
The institutional challenge lies in the rapid and sustained implementation of joint training exercises and technological transfers. To act as an effective VFA, it must quickly translate into a visible increase in the operational readiness and interoperability of both states’ military, particularly in the maritime domain. A failure to allocate necessary resources and execute complex joint operations could diminish the pact’s intended strategic effect. Further, the pact needs to be supported by suitable politcal rhetoric to have at least some effect in the South China Sea dispute.
