UK wants SOVFA with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The United Kingdom has officially expressed its desire to enter into a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines.

UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey relayed his government’s intention in a letter handed to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. by visiting Minister of State for Defense in the House of Lords Vernon Coaker.

Teodoro yesterday welcomed Coaker at Camp Aguinaldo where they talked about boosting defense relations.

“This initiative demonstrates the growing convergence between Europe and the Indo-Pacific in upholding the rules-based international order,” Teodoro said of the UK’s bid for a SOVFA with the Philippines.

In a statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said the two officials have “agreed to undertake their respective internal processes and commence formal negotiations for the proposed SOVFA, which will enhance operational collaboration and interoperability between the Philippine and British Armed Forces.”

Teodoro also welcomed the UK’s increased engagement in the region as Coaker’s trip to Manila coincided with the port visit of the warship HMS Richmond as part of Operation Highmast, involving the UK Carrier Strike Group’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

The DND said both sides also exchanged views on the regional security situation, including developments in the South China Sea, military educational exchanges and defense industry cooperation.

Teodoro and Coaker’s meeting “concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthen the ever-growing defense partnership between the Philippines and the United Kingdom in support of regional and global stability.”

The DND said the two defense officials previously met on the sidelines of the 22nd IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore in May this year.