In a significant move to bolster their defense relations, the military forces of the Philippines and France are set to enhance their cooperation. This development follows a meeting between French Joint Commander for Asia Pacific, Rear Admiral Guillaume Pinget, and the Acting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida, held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on February 13, 2025. The leaders discussed a range of initiatives aimed at fortifying their defense partnership, including potential joint activities and a renewed focus on modernization and training exchanges to boost operational readiness. The visit by Rear Admiral Pinget highlights the Philippines’ dedication to nurturing a robust partnership and exploring new avenues for collaboration in areas of shared defense interests. This move also reflects the Philippines’ commitment to enhancing regional stability and security. France is one of three countries, alongside Canada and New Zealand, with which the Philippines is negotiating a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) to improve military interoperability.
Philippines and France Aim to Deepen Military Collaboration
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