On Sunday, Germany and the Philippines announced their intention to sign a defense agreement later this year aimed at enhancing cooperation between their armed forces.
In discussions held in Manila, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro agreed to strengthen their collaboration in military training and weapons procurement.
This move comes as China increases its military presence in contested areas of the South China Sea. Pistorius emphasized that the new partnership is not directed at any specific nation but is focused on upholding a rules-based international order, ensuring freedom of navigation, and safeguarding trade routes.
The Philippines plans to invest $35 billion over the next decade to modernize its military and improve its defense capabilities in response to growing tensions with Beijing. Manila has already established defense agreements with several countries, including the United States, Japan, India, and Sweden.
Teodoro noted that the Philippines is interested in engaging Germany as a potential supplier of advanced training and weaponry, including in areas such as command and control, anti-access aerial denial, and maritime and aerial domains.
Pistorius indicated that the defense agreement might be finalized as soon as October. Both ministers expressed strong opposition to any unilateral actions to assert expansive claims, particularly through force or coercion.
Teodoro clarified that the Philippines does not seek to provoke China or engage in conflict but is addressing what it views as China’s unlawful and unilateral attempts to claim most of the South China Sea.
In recent months, tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated, with incidents such as accusations that the Chinese military intentionally rammed Philippine navy vessels, resulting in injuries to a Filipino sailor.
China claims sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, overlapping with exclusive economic zones claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims have no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected.
The South China Sea is a crucial trade route, handling over $3 trillion in goods and commodities annually, which accounts for about 60% of global maritime trade.
On Friday, Germany became the 18th nation to join the U.S.-led United Nations Command in South Korea, a coalition that oversees the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The UN Command is dedicated to defending South Korea in the event of conflict.
The visit to Manila on Sunday marked the first time a German defense minister has visited the Philippines, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
