Germany and the Philippines on Sunday said they are working on a defence cooperation agreement, to be signed later this year, that would expand training between their armed forces and armaments cooperation.
The Philippines has been pushing to boost its external defences amid escalating tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea, and has been signing defence cooperation deals with other countries.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who was visiting Manila, and Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said they “strongly opposed any unilateral attempt to advance expansive claims, especially through force or coercion,” amid security challenges in both Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.
“Recognizing the wide array of opportunities for enhancing bilateral defense relations in light of security challenges that both countries face, the ministers committed to conclude a broader arrangement on defence cooperation,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
“To this end, the ministers are committed to establish long-term relations between the armed forces and specifically to expand training cooperation and bilateral exchanges,” the statement added.
“The ministers, moreover, intend to explore opportunities to further expand the bilateral armaments cooperation and to engage in joint projects.”
Pistorious said the defence cooperation agreement would hopefully be signed later this year, “maybe already in October.”
While stressing that the enhanced cooperation was not directed at a specific country amid the Philippines’ dispute with China over the South China Sea, Pistorius told a press conference: “All countries must be able to enjoy freedom of navigation, regardless of the economic strength or geographic size. This is what we stand up for together with our partners.”
