The Philippines and Canada are planning to work together more closely to improve disaster resilience as part of efforts to strengthen their defense cooperation.
This idea came after the Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary, Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., and the Canada Ambassador to the Philippines, David Bruce Hartman, met on August 4 at the DND headquarters in Quezon City.
Both countries pledged to focus on capacity-building projects to enhance practical cooperation in disaster resilience, education, and training, among other initiatives between the Philippine and Canadian defense establishments.
Canada has also expressed its interest in increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
As the Philippines and Canada approach their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, Teodoro pointed out that Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is well-timed, as it aligns the Philippines’ aim to enhance its defense collaborations with like-minded states
Moreover, both countries expressed their willingness to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation as a way to additionally celebrate this important bilateral milestone.
Source: Inside Politico | #InsidePolitico | August 8, 2023