The Philippine Senate approves a resolution concurring in the ratification of the Philippines–France Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). Outlets report the measure passes on third and final reading, setting a domestic legal step needed for the agreement to take effect.
The SOVFA, signed in Paris in March, provides a framework for the entry and conduct of visiting military forces from both countries. The Department of National Defense says it looks forward to the agreement’s entry into force and to strengthening the defense partnership. One outlet also highlights that it is the Philippines’ first SOVFA with a European country, while other coverage focuses on the Senate’s approval process and the intended legal framework for the visits.
