SOVFA with France: Diversifying partnerships

On March 26, history was made as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and France’s Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). France is the first European nation to forge such an accord with the Philippines—marking the fourth visiting forces agreement concluded under the Marcos administration and under the leadership of Teodoro, reflecting a deliberate push to expand and institutionalize the country’s defense partnerships.

The SOVFA allows both countries to conduct joint military training in each other’s territory and strengthens legal protections for these activities.

As of March, the Armed Forces of the Philippines monitored 90 unauthorized Chinese naval and coast guard vessels across key features in the West Philippine Sea, a sharp increase from the previous month. These deployments reflect a pattern of illegal and coercive actions aimed at eroding Philippine sovereign rights.

This should not be called a “dispute.” The 2016 arbitral ruling already settled the matter, affirming that China’s sweeping claims have no legal basis. What we are witnessing is a sustained disregard for international law.

Against this backdrop, the Philippines must adopt a more proactive defense posture. Internal capability-building remains essential, but it is no longer sufficient. Credible and diversified partnerships are critical to strengthening deterrence and ensuring operational readiness.

Surveys show strong backing for both military modernization and deeper cooperation with allies. Expanding partnerships beyond traditional allies signals a serious effort to build a wider coalition committed to a rules-based international order.

In this context, the SOVFA with France is strategic. It reflects a conscious effort to diversify defense relationships and broaden cooperation beyond the Indo-Pacific’s usual partners.

France is not a distant or symbolic partner. It is an Indo-Pacific nation with one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world, much of it located in this region. Its territories in the Indian and Pacific Oceans give it a sustained presence close to the Philippines, supported by deployed military assets and operational experience.

This partnership also reflects a broader convergence of interests between the Philippines and like-minded states beyond the region. As European powers such as France deepen their engagement in the Indo-Pacific, cooperation with countries like the Philippines reinforces a shared commitment to maritime security, stability, and the rule of law.

Through the SOVFA, both countries can scale up joint exercises, enhance interoperability, and deepen maritime security cooperation—steps that directly strengthen the Philippines’ defense posture. More importantly, a broader network of capable partners complicates any attempt to isolate the Philippines or test its resolve. It raises the strategic cost of coercion and reinforces the credibility of deterrence in the West Philippine Sea.

Beyond this, the agreement opens pathways beyond training. During a press briefing on the SOVFA, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel underscored France’s commitment to supporting the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including expanded training, deeper information exchanges, and potential acquisition of assets from the French defense industry, which she described as strategically autonomous and capable of supporting long-term capability development.

This cooperation is already taking shape. During his official visit to France, Philippine Navy flag officer in command Vice Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, alongside Philippine Ambassador to France Eduardo José de Vega, visited Naval Group facilities in Cherbourg and Paris, where discussions covered submarine construction, naval capabilities, and solutions tailored to the Philippine Navy’s modernization needs, opening opportunities for deeper industrial and operational collaboration.

The SOVFA with France is more than a bilateral agreement. It forms part of a broader strategy to diversify deterrence, expand partnerships, and strengthen the country’s position in a rapidly evolving security environment.

As the Philippines navigates growing challenges in the West Philippine Sea, building a wider and more capable network of partners will be essential. The agreement with France is a step in that direction—one that enhances preparedness and resilience while upholding the rules-based international order.

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Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.