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The Philippines said its visiting forces agreement with Canada is ready for signing, as the Southeast Asian nation builds a coalition of like-minded nations and deterrence amid tensions with China. Article content

Manila is also negotiating a similar military pact with France, while it’s forging an enhanced defense cooperation with India, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday at the Reuters NEXT event in Singapore. Article content Article content

The Philippines said in March that it concluded discussions with Canada for the pact, which would facilitate joint exercises between their militaries. Teodoro didn’t provide a timeline for the signing of the agreement. Article content Article content

“It is a coalition of unity that we are creating here, to create some momentum in resilience because of our shared desire for a free and open Indo-Pacific” he said.

Manila, a US treaty ally, has also sealed military agreements with Japan and New Zealand.

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