(Manila, 23rd) — The Philippines and Australia on Friday signed a 'Statement of Intent for Defense Cooperation Agreement' and plan to formally sign the agreement in 2026 to further strengthen bilateral security relations.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles pointed out after the second Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers’ Meeting held in Makati City that this agreement will be an important step in the two countries’ defense relationship.
He said the agreement will build on the 1995 'Philippines-Australia Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation', covering annual defense ministers’ meetings, joint exercises and operational collaboration, and will also include infrastructure development.
"Currently, Australia is advancing eight infrastructure projects in five regions across the Philippines, and these projects will benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Marles added.
Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro said that the agreement will make the partnership between the two countries more concrete, pointing out that signing the agreement during the ASEAN Summit hosted by the Philippines next year would be "timely".
He thanked Australia for supporting the Philippines' rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and emphasized that the two countries will work hand in hand in the Indo-Pacific region to uphold international law and shared values in facing increasingly severe challenges.