PHILIPPINES, NEW ZEALAND WRAP UP DISCUSSIONS ON VISITING FORCES PACT

The Philippines and New Zealand have completed negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) allowing military forces from both countries to conduct joint exercises and activities on each other’s territories.
Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Arsenio Andolong announced that the final round of talks concluded on February 18, with both sides expressing optimism about signing the deal in the second quarter of 2025.
The agreement aims to strengthen defense and military ties between the Philippines and New Zealand, enabling their armed forces to collaborate more closely.
The negotiations involved representatives from both countries, with the final talks led by DND Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo and New Zealand Ministry of Defense Director Kathleen Pearce.
This agreement is expected to reinforce the 2017 Memorandum of Arrangement and mark a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two nations, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026.