The Philippines and Canada concluded a Status-of-Visiting-Forces Agreement (SOVFA) on 2 November 2025 that will allow their armed forces to train and operate on each other’s territory. The deal represents Canada’s first such agreement in the Indo-Pacific and complements Manila’s existing defence partnerships. Analysts say it signals a shift in regional security alignments as smaller states seek broader alliance networks amid rising concerns over maritime disputes and strategic competition in the region.