Home NATIONWIDE PH, New Zealand nagtakda ng ‘motion talks’ sa ‘visiting forces’ deal

PH, New Zealand nagtakda ng ‘motion talks’ sa ‘visiting forces’ deal

MANILA, Philippines- Sinimulan na ng Pilipinas at New Zealand ng negosasyon para sa posibleng Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), na magpapalakas ng defense cooperation sa pagitan ng dalawang armed forces.

Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng New Zealand Embassy sa Maynila na ang pagsisimula ng negosasyon ay pangungunahan ni Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo at Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce sa Maynila.

“A SOVFA will reinforce the Memorandum of Arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the MoD of New Zealand concerning Defence Cooperation, which was signed in 2017,” ang nakasaad sa kalatas.

“It will enable both countries’ armed forces to elevate their cooperative activities and conduct exercises in each other’s territories, deepening overall defence and military cooperation,” dagdag na wika nito.

Sinabi pa ng embahada na ang first round ng negosasyon “marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties” sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa.

Ang commitment na tapusin ang pag-uusap ukol sa SOVFA ay isa sa key outcomes ng miting sa pagitan nina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sa naging pagbisita nito sa Pilipinas noong April 2024.

“The conclusion of this agreement will be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, as the two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2026,” wika ng embahada.

Maliban kay Lorenzo, kabilang din sa delegado mula sa Pilipinas sina Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez at Dennis Arvin Chan, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau at Patrick Chuasoto, at DND Assistant Secretary Erik Lawrence Dy.

Ang mga delegado naman mula sa New Zealand ay sina New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, at isang analyst mula sa MoD. Ang iba pang miyembro ng New Zealand delegation ay nakiisa naman ‘virtually.’ Kris Jose