Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines is open to negotiating a future visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Germany in a bid to expand defense partnerships in response to an increasingly volatile security environment, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, June 16.

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Malacañang, Marcos said a VFA remains a possibility as military, defense, and security cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen.

“Why not?” Marcos said when asked about a possible military deal.

“We probably, in reality, we’re still a long way off of that. But we are actually increasing our engagements, especially in the military and in the defense and the security areas,” he said.

The president said the Philippines would be receptive to such an arrangement if both sides determine the timing is right.

“If we came to an agreement and we feel that it is time to have it, the Philippines would certainly entertain that possibility very warmly,” Marcos said.

He said the pursuit of broader defense partnerships has become increasingly important in the shifting geopolitical realities.

“With the volatility that is happening in the geopolitical world right now, the best path to stability is to have partnerships, is to have a wide base of alliances,” Marcos said.

The president explained that no single country can influence or direct global developments on its own, underscoring the importance of multilateral cooperation.

Germany and the Philippines have steadily strengthened defense relations in recent years, including Berlin’s participation as an observer in the Balikatan exercises and the signing of a defense cooperation arrangement in 2025.

German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke told NewsWatch Plus that he hopes both sides could eventually negotiate a VFA to allow deeper military cooperation and future participation of German forces in joint activities in the Philippines.