President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during a meeting in Vancouver on July 2, 2026. The leaders also witnessed the signing of agreements on energy labor tourism and culture while discussing South China Sea issues.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the elevation of ties during a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting. He said the two countries tasked their foreign ministers to create a plan of action for shared commitments.
Marcos thanked Canada for supporting a rules-based order in the South China Sea and recognizing the 2016 arbitral tribunal award as final and legally binding. He also welcomed Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection Program which aids efforts against illegal fishing.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a joint declaration on energy and natural resources an MOU on tourism an MOU on cultural cooperation from 2026 to 2031 and a joint declaration on labor and migration. Carney said Canada would soon ratify the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement to enable closer military cooperation.
Marcos is the first Philippine president to visit Canada since 2015. Canada is home to the second largest Filipino diaspora in the world.