Senate ratifies PH visiting forces agreement with France

MANILA — The Senate ratified the Philippines’ visiting forces agreement with France on Thursday, October 8.

Seventeen senators voted in favor of Resolution No. 650 backing the ratification of the visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and France.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, authored the resolution, and his panel last month approved the proposed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with France.

SOVFA is a reciprocal bilateral defense agreement that establishes the legal framework governing the presence and cooperative activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the French Armed Forces.

It facilitates joint defense, training, humanitarian, and other mutually agreed activities.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the SOVFA on August 18, 2026. —With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News