Enhanced cooperation under PH-Germany defense deal – German ambassador

Metro Manila, Philippines - Germany’s ambassador to the Philippines said the newly signed defense cooperation arrangement between Manila and Berlin marks a milestone in strengthening ties between trusted and like-minded partners.

“The signing of the defense cooperation arrangement is another milestone in fostering Filipino-German relations and cooperation between like-minded and trusted partners,” Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said in a message to NewsWatch Plus.

“The arrangement opens the door to enhanced cooperation in many areas including peacekeeping, cyber, training and capacity building,” he added. “In light of the global challenges our two countries are facing, this cooperation is particularly important.”

The agreement was signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Wednesday. It covers cybersecurity, logistics, United Nations peacekeeping, and joint training initiatives, according to the Department of National Defense.

The pact builds on Pistorius’ visit to Manila last year, where both sides committed to strengthening military-to-military ties.

It also comes as the Philippines accelerates efforts to diversify its security partnerships. In the past months, Manila has formalized defense cooperation agreements with New Zealand, Japan, and is expected to do the same with Canada.

Negotiations for a visiting forces agreement with France are also underway

This development was first reported by NewsWatch Plus in April, when sources from the German embassy revealed that the Philippines and Germany were preparing to sign a key defense cooperation deal in May.

At that time, diplomatic sources confirmed that the text of the “agreement on security cooperation” had been finalized and agreed upon by both sides. The signing was scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin.

A source from the German embassy described the deal as “a very strong signal for our strengthening cooperation as trusted partners in a rapidly changing global environment. Standing stronger together is a must these days.”

The agreement is seen as part of Manila and Berlin’s shared commitment to uphold the international rules-based order amid ongoing territorial conflicts in the South China Sea.