PHILIPPINES, ITALY SIGN NEW DEFENSE COOPERATION DEAL

The Philippines and Italy signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement, replacing an expired memorandum of understanding, during the Munich Security Conference in Germany. The deal, inked by Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Guido Crosetto, covers procurement, defense co-production, and collaboration on logistics and technology. Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial highlighted that the agreement elevates political and security ties and underscores Italy’s commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. Italy aligns its Indo-Pacific engagement with the 2021 EU Strategy and supports the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a framework for managing territorial disputes, including in the South China Sea. Officials said the partnership strengthens strategic cooperation while promoting a free, open, and rules-based regional order.