MANILA, Philippines – Nasa aktibong negosasyon ang Canada at Pilipinas para sa isang military intelligence-sharing agreement na tatawaging General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), ayon kay Canadian Ambassador David Hartman nitong Huwebes.
Sa sidelines ng isang forum ng Stratbase ADR Institute sa Makati City, sinabi ni Hartman na nagpapatuloy ang usapan sa Department of Defense ng Pilipinas, na aniya ay patunay ng lumalalim na defense cooperation ng dalawang bansa kasunod ng paglagda sa Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).
“We’re in active negotiations on that now with the Department of Defense here. Again, that is indicative of how advanced the relationship is,” ayon kay Hartman.
Aniya, papayagan ng kasunduan ang mas malayang palitan ng classified military information, na magpapalalim sa ugnayan ng dalawang militar.
“The absence of that doesn’t preclude us from engaging very comprehensively, very robustly, but with that extra layer, it just allows us to go deeper in terms of the exchange, and the frankness and the candor of information that we’re able to share,” dagdag niya.
Itinuturing ng Canada ang Pilipinas bilang mahalagang partner sa ilalim ng Indo-Pacific Strategy nito upang mapanatili ang regional stability. Pinalawak ng Ottawa ang economic at defense ties nito sa Manila, kabilang ang SOVFA.
Sinabi rin ni Hartman na magpapadala ang Canada ng mahigit 600 personnel at assets sa 2026 Exercise Balikatan, na magiging ikatlong pinakamalaking participant sa nasabing military exercise.
“This year, Canada will be the third largest participant at Balikatan. This is from three and a half years ago, when we didn’t even have a resident defense attaché,” ayon kay Hartman.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, we’re trying to put our money where our mouth is and demonstrate, not just in words but in deeds, our commitment to the Philippines and to our collective and shared interests,” dagdag pa niya. Dave Baluyot
