KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, October 31, 2025 – Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and New Zealand Minister of Defence Judith Collins on Friday expressed anticipation for the entry into force and implementation of the Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), signed during their bilateral meeting in Manila earlier on April 30 this year.

On the sidelines of the 2025 ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, the two officials reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to fostering enhanced mutual resilience and interoperability. By providing the legal framework for the entry, stay, and activities of Philippine and New Zealand forces in each other’s territories, the SOVFA will pave the way for improved military coordination, quicker response during disasters, and heightened levels of joint training and collaborative engagements.

Secretary Teodoro acknowledged that the Philippines and New Zealand have already taken various concrete steps to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, including the participation of New Zealand in the Maritime Cooperative Activity held by the Armed Forces of the Philippines together with other like-minded countries.

Minister Collins also shared New Zealand’s ongoing collaborative efforts with international partners, including Pacific Island nations, underscoring the importance of establishing stronger security ties amid various challenges to regional security. The minister also shared that Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa is currently in the Philippines for a goodwill visit.

Both officials looked forward to future bilateral and multilateral defense engagements aimed at promoting dialogue to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.