The Philippines and Australia signed an upgraded defence cooperation agreement on Sunday aimed at strengthening Manila’s military deterrence capabilities, streamlining coordination between their armed forces and expanding joint military activities amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is visiting Manila for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, witnessed the signing of the Philippines-Australia Defense Cooperation Arrangement at Manila South Harbor.
The agreement was signed by Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown, updating a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation originally concluded between the two countries in 1995, according to Rappler News.
Teodoro said the revised arrangement would simplify administrative procedures and accelerate coordination between the two militaries, allowing them to undertake joint activities more efficiently.
“The agreement makes us work faster, speedier. It streamlines the coordination process. Basically, it is the mechanism by which the SOFA will work,” he said.
He was referring to the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFA), which has been in effect between the Philippines and Australia since 2012.
The existing agreement allows military personnel from both countries to enter each other’s territory for training exercises and humanitarian response operations.
The upgraded defence arrangement is intended to facilitate the implementation of these activities while enabling closer cooperation across maritime, air and land operations.
The Philippines and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in September 2023, reflecting their expanding cooperation in defence and other areas.
Asked whether the new agreement would contribute to military deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, Teodoro emphasised that its primary purpose was to strengthen the Philippines’ ability to protect its own territory and maritime interests.
“Deterrence on the West Philippine Sea, yes; (deterrence) in Philippine territory, yes,” he said, according to a video shared by ABS-CBN News.
The agreement comes amid longstanding territorial disputes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, where the two countries have overlapping maritime claims.
Manila refers to portions of the South China Sea within its claimed maritime jurisdiction as the West Philippine Sea.
Teodoro said the enhanced cooperation with Australia would strengthen the Philippines’ ability to maintain a credible deterrent posture in areas it considers to be under its jurisdiction.
“Our stance in the West Philippine Sea … is all entitlements are Philippine entitlements. So, it will bolster our credible deterrent posture in areas where we have jurisdiction,” he said.
The defence secretary added that the arrangement would allow the Philippine and Australian armed forces to conduct more joint maritime, aerial and land-based activities.
The upgraded pact builds on three decades of bilateral defence cooperation and provides a framework for expanding military coordination between the two countries.
It also reinforces their existing arrangements for joint exercises and humanitarian operations while supporting the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities amid regional maritime disputes.