Department of National Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Resource Management Salvador Melchor Mison Jr. and UK's Ministry of Defence Head of Indo-Pacific Amy Senior met in Makato City on Thursday, August 27, for the first round of formal negotiations for the proposed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). Official handout.
Manuel Mogato | August 28, 2026
MANILA — The Philippines and the United Kingdom have started formal negotiations for a status of visiting forces agreement, allowing British troops to hold drills in the country.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Salvador Melchor Mison Jr, defense undersecretary for acquisition and resource management, met with Amy Senior, UK’s head of Indo-Pacific at the British defense ministry, to discuss a possible framework agreement to allow military exercises and training in both countries.
The negotiations reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to “bolstering cross-regional defense cooperation and upholding rules-based international order,” a statement issued by the defense department said.
“We appreciate the UK’s unqualified support as a like-minded partner in upholding the rules-based international order and preserving freedoms ensured by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” said Mison.
Mison said the negotiations also “affirmed the Philippines-UK relations while upholding rules-based order in response to the emerging complex security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The discussions focused on “enhancing strategic initiatives and interoperability” between the two armed forces, highlighting “mutual commitment for regional peace and security through the rule of law.”
Mison also underscored the “ever-growing” partnership between the Philippines and the UK in defense relations and cooperation.
UK could be the second European power to enter into a status of forces deal with the Philippines after France. Germany and the Netherlands are also interested in signing a similar military arrangement.
Philippines has similar military agreements with several like-minded nations, including the United States. Philippines and the US signed the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1998.
Philippines also has SOVFAs with Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan.
