The Philippines and Germany ink a defense cooperation arrangement. DND 

MANILA —- The Philippines and Germany signed a defense cooperation arrangement in Berlin on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and German Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius agreed to pursue an “overarching framework” to advance bilateral defense partnership.

This is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the country’s international ties.

The arrangement builds on the 1974 Administrative Agreement concerning the training of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Germany, one of Manila’s longest defense cooperation frameworks with another country.

This also expands cooperation between the two defense and military establishments in the fields of cybersecurity, defense armaments and logistics, and United Nations (UN) peacekeeping, the DND said.

Following the signing, both Teodoro and Pistorius will convene the 3rd Philippines-Germany Security and Defense Staff Talks to review and concretize proposed joint activities and initiatives to be implemented under the said arrangement in the coming year.

The Philippines’ defense cooperation arrangement with Berlin adds to a growing list of defense deals beyond its traditional ally, the United States.

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Last month, the Philippines signed a defense agreement with New Zealand for expanded military cooperation.

A similar deal with Canada is expected to be signed soon.

Meanwhile, a reciprocal access agreement with Japan is currently awaiting ratification in Tokyo, which would provide the bases for the deployment of troops in the two countries’ territory.

Marcos has also approved the start of negotiations with France for a visiting forces agreement (VFA).

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