France and the Philippines have signed a military agreement amid tensions with China, according to Bloomberg
France and the Philippines have signed a new defense agreement that streamlines mutual military visits and strengthens cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.
The document was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, according to Bloomberg.
The statement notes: “The agreement will significantly strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure an adequate level of legal protection for joint activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the French Armed Forces.”
Manila is actively seeking new partners amid growing tensions in the South China Sea, where China has made territorial claims, particularly in areas that the Philippines considers part of its exclusive economic zone.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed security issues in the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East, and called for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the strengthening of supply chains amid global instability.
The Philippines has already signed similar agreements with Japan and New Zealand, complementing its cooperation with Australia and the United States.
For its part, France is interested in expanding its defense partnership and is offering the Philippines modern military equipment, including submarines and coast guard vessels.
The agreement marks another step toward strengthening security in the region amid geopolitical tensions.
The U.S. war against Iran gives China time for a large-scale modernization of its military.
As a reminder, China denied any link between the postponement of Trump’s visit and the Strait of Hormuz.
China also once again called on Taiwan to “reunify,” promising energy stability.
