The Philippines and France may begin negotiations next month on a visiting forces agreement as their militaries seek to step up their defense exchanges, according to the French ambassador.
The envisioned pact, which would allow the two countries to hold joint military drills in their territories, was first brought up during bilateral defense ministerial talks in December. The negotiations would come as the Philippines diversifies its alliances and France gives increasing attention to the Indo-Pacific region.
"We will have an opportunity in May to maybe start officially the negotiations, or at least discuss the modalities" in Paris when the two countries' defense officials meet, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said in a press briefing held with visiting French Ambassador to the Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour on Thursday.
The Philippines, which is embroiled in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, has similar agreements with the United States and Australia, and is currently negotiating one with Japan.
France is participating for the first time in an annual military exercise held by the Philippines and the United States, which started on Monday and lasts until May 10, with a French navy frigate joining an exercise in the South China Sea that started Thursday.
In late May, another French navy frigate is set to make a port call in Manila, to be followed by a stopover of French fighter jets at the Clark Air Base north of the Philippine capital in July.
"We are very convinced that through our Indo-Pacific strategy, we should contribute to the stability of the region," stressing the importance of sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific, Abensour said.
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