The Philippines and Canada signed two defense agreements on Thursday to strengthen their Status of Visiting Forces Agreement signed last year.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Minister of National Defense David McGuinty signed the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the Statement of Intent for Deepening Defense Cooperation during a meeting in Manila.
The agreements aim to advance cooperation and enable swift assistance in emergencies while contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Teodoro said the deals put teeth to the visiting forces agreement and build trust between the two defense systems. McGuinty noted that Canada and the Philippines share an enduring friendship spanning more than 75 years rooted in democracy and the rule of law.