The Philippines and Canada affirmed their defense relations on Friday following the signing of a defense cooperation memorandum of understanding.
In a press statement, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the signing of the MOU expressed a strong intention by both sides to deepen and strengthen the Philippine-Canadian relationship by forging new milestones in defense relations that could culminate in a Visiting Forces Agreement.
“The strongest assets we have are the mutual trust and confidence that we have in one another on a people-to-people basis, and because we are dealing with each other in a straightforward, open, and on a rules-based manner, such trust is reinforced and will surpass political changes and the tests of time,” added Teodoro.
The MOU will start Philippine and Canadian cooperation on military education, training exchanges, information sharing, peacekeeping operations, and disaster response, he added.
For his part, Canadian Ambassador David Bruce Hartman conveyed his country’s intention to advance its relations with the Philippines and the region as outlined in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Representatives from the Philippines and Canada likewise convened for a bilateral defense meeting earlier to exchange views on global security concerns and discuss future activities and initiatives. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
