Philippines, Australia forge updated defense cooperation

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown signed the Philippines-Australia Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) at the Manila South Harbor yesterday.

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Australia have signed an updated defense cooperation agreement, aimed at expanding joint activities and strengthening the country’s military deterrence.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown signed the Philippines-Australia Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) at the Manila South Harbor yesterday.

The Department of National Defense said the new DCA provides a basis for further enhancement of defense engagements and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, building on 30 years of implementation of the 1995 DCA between the two countries.

“(The) stance in the West Philippine Sea of the President is that all entitlements are Philippine entitlements. It will bolster our credible deterrence posture in areas where we have jurisdiction,” Teodoro told reporters. 

The agreement, according to Teodoro, is a mechanism that would make possible more joint maritime, air and land activities between the two countries under the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).

“It will make things much, much faster and easier. Rather than 100 steps to do a single thing, it will just now take 10 and it will be more purposive and not ad hoc,” Teodoro said. “It is the anti-red tape measure of our SOVFA.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in Manila for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, witnessed the signing of the DCA.

“And today with the signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement, we’re taking that even further. Because building stronger ties with our neighbors makes Australia safer,” Albanese wrote on X.

The DCA also builds on the Statement of Intent on Enhanced Defense Cooperation signed by Teodoro and Australian Minister for Defense Richard Marles on Aug. 22 last year.

The statement recognized the need for an updated framework that reflects the breadth, depth and growing importance of defense cooperation between the two countries amid an increasingly complex regional security environment.

The agreement’s signing also coincides with the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Australia.