Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) — The Canadian and Philippine governments are finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation which aims to boost Manila’s maritime capabilities in addressing regional challenges.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman expressed optimism that the MOU will be signed very soon. The envoy did not give an exact timeline, but said he is confident with the progress of the negotiations.
\”I’m very optimistic that it will be signed in a not so distant future. I’ll be candid with you and we have been negotiating this for some time,\” Hartman said.
According to Hartman, the MOU will not be a treaty or a legally-binding document – but more of a manifestation of \”the government of Canada wanting to collaborate with the government of the Philippines, with the Armed Forces and other stakeholders to exchange best practices, train together, exchange technology and shared military exercises.\”
As one of the biggest maritime countries in the world, Canada said it can provide a lot of expertise in maritime activities and technology.
\”We have three coasts, the Atlantic, Arctic and the Pacific. We have a tremendous amount of world class technologies that we are keen to develop opportunity here,\” Hartman said.
\”In the area of maritime issues, we have a lot of high-end technologies, satellite-based technologies, and augmenting the Philippines’ maritime domain for the protection of your exclusive economic zone, territorial waters, fisheries and these are the technologies we help distribute elsewhere in the world,\” he added.
The Canadian envoy said Ottawa is also pushing for coast guard-to-coast guard cooperation with Manila.
