Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius signed a defense cooperation agreement, Reuters reports, News.bg reports.
The agreement provides for expanding the partnership between the two countries in areas such as cybersecurity, the defense industry, logistics and participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
The agreement is a follow-up to Pistorius' visit to Manila in 2024, during which the two ministers committed to strengthening long-term relations between their armed forces.
The defense cooperation with Germany is part of the Philippines' broader strategy to diversify partnerships beyond its traditional ally – United States.
In April, the Philippines signed a similar agreement with New Zealand, and one with Canada is expected to follow soon. A reciprocal access agreement with Japan was ratified in December, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already approved the start of negotiations with France on a visiting forces agreement.