The Philippines and Canada signed a defense pact enabling joint military exercises and troop deployments in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines and Canada have signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, enabling joint military exercises and the temporary deployment of troops and equipment, marking Canada’s first defense pact in the Indo-Pacific. The agreement strengthens security cooperation amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where China’s assertive actions, including water cannon use and aggressive maneuvers, have prompted regional concern. Canada has previously supported the Philippines’ position, including a 2016 ruling invalidating China’s maritime claims, and shared satellite-based vessel tracking technology to monitor Chinese activity. The pact is part of the Philippines’ broader strategy under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expand defense ties with Western nations, following similar agreements with the U.S., Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, with ongoing talks with France and others.