Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is on a four-day official visit to Canada, meeting Prime Minister Mark Carney as both countries expand economic links and discuss defence and maritime cooperation tied to the Indo-Pacific. The visit begins in Canada’s capital and includes stops in Vancouver. Reports say it is the first official visit by a Philippine head of state to Canada in more than a decade, following President Benigno Aquino III’s trip in 2015, and Marcos is on his 44th overseas trip since taking office in 2022.
Marcos seeks a stronger Canadian role in supporting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, with talks covering defence and maritime cooperation alongside trade, labour, energy and tourism. Canadian and Philippine officials and business leaders are also involved in the agenda, reflecting an effort to deepen bilateral engagement.
During the visit, Canada and the Philippines sign sectoral agreements in areas including energy, natural resources, labour and tourism, as Ottawa highlights efforts to strengthen relationships beyond its traditional focus on the United States. The discussions combine economic arrangements with broader regional-security coordination, according to participating officials and reporting outlets.
