President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to discuss strengthening military ties. Noel Pabalate, PPA Pool 

MANILA — The Philippines and New Zealand on Wednesday inked a defense agreement allowing their militaries to hold joint training activities in each other’s territories, making Wellington the fourth to have such a deal with Manila. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the State of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA)in Malacañang, noting that “these partnerships have become very important in the face of all that is happening, not only in our region.”

“It began only in our region, but it has now, unfortunately, extended to the rest of the world,” the Filipino leader said.

“Nonetheless, those partnerships that we have formed and the agreements we have made bilaterally and on a multi-level basis as well have been extremely important,” he said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro signed the deal with his New Zealand counterpart, Defense Minister Judith Colins.

“The relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, I believe, is very strong,” Colins said.

The Philippines also enjoys a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and a SOVFA with Australia, while a similar deal with Japan has been signed but is pending ratification in Congress.

In 2024, Teodoro said that the administration was working to forge similar defense pacts with Canada and France.