Canada is looking to invest in the Philippine defense industry following the two nation’s signing of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), a move that Manila sees as key to its military modernization push amid growing security challenges in the region.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. raised the prospect of deeper defense trade ties during a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City last week, according to a DND statement released on Monday, May 18.
During the meeting, Teodoro highlighted the strategic significance of establishing a defense trade partnership with Canada, noting that Ottawa’s expertise “complements the Philippines’ modernization goals.”
The meeting came months after Manila and Ottawa signed the SOVFA on Nov. 2, 2025, providing a legal framework for visits and joint activities involving Filipino and Canadian troops.
The DND has pushed for more security partnerships with like-minded countries as tensions continue in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sidhu, for his part, reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ defense priorities and expressed interest in investing in the local defense sector “across cyber, air, land, and maritime domains.”
Canada also underscored the importance of securing defense supply chains as geopolitical tensions reshape global security and trade arrangements.
The Philippines and Canada have expanded defense ties over the past decade through government-to-government transactions and military engagements.
The DND noted that cooperation between the two countries dates back to 2013 following the signing of a 2012 memorandum of understanding between the defense department and the Canadian Commercial Corporation covering defense and military-related equipment and services.
Under the arrangement, the Philippines acquired eight Bell 412EP helicopters from Canada for military operations and disaster response missions.
The latest talks also tackled the possible integration of Canadian technology into Philippine defense systems to improve interoperability and strengthen defense capabilities, according to the DND.
Both sides said they were looking to further expand bilateral defense cooperation as Manila accelerates the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
