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Phl, New Zealand Set to Sign Status of Visiting Forces Agreement
The Philippine Star
|April 29, 2025
The Philippines and New Zealand are set to sign a defense agreement that will enable both countries' armed forces to enhance their cooperative activities and conduct joint exercises in each other's territories.
The New Zealand embassy announced yesterday that Defense Minister Judith Collins is in Manila from April 28 to May 2 for an official visit and to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro tomorrow.
"It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories," Collins said in a statement.
The first round of negotiations was hosted by the government in January in Manila, with Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo and Ministry of Defense Head of International Relations Kathleen Pearce leading the Philippine and New Zealand delegations, respectively.
The talks marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties between the two countries.
This story is from the April 29, 2025 edition of The Philippine Star.
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