By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo courtesy: Jam Sta Rosa / AFP
The Philippines and Australia plan to sign a new Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in 2026 to boost security ties and develop the Southeast Asian country's military infrastructure, its defense chiefs announced on Friday.
PH Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles presented the plan at the 2nd Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers' Meeting in Makati City on Aug. 22, 2025.
The potential agreement comes as both countries express alarm over China's 'unilateral activities' in the region.
“What we cannot control are the unilateral activities of China. Hence, the need for deterring China and giving the strong message that their activities will not be tolerated by the international (community),” Teodoro Jr. said.
The two officials signed a statement of intent, indicating their intention to complete the agreement next year. The proposed agreement will be based on the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.
"It will encapsulate the totality of our engagement in defense, but it will include, for example, a commitment to see us having annual defense ministers' meetings. It will look at how we can do more in terms of coordinating our exercise and operation tempo between our two countries," Marles said.
Teodoro Jr. further highlighted that the DCA will serve as a framework for formalizing current bilateral collaboration without introducing legally obligatory mutual defense commitments.
The statement came during Exercise ALON 25, a large-scale joint military training involving over 3,600 forces from the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
The agreement will also consider how Australia may contribute more to infrastructure development in the Philippines, which Marles believes will benefit the Philippines Armed Forces (AFP).
"To that end, we have also, as part of our outcomes, agreed to pursue a defense infrastructure plan. Right now, Australia is pursuing eight different infrastructure projects across five different locations here in the Philippines," Marles said.
Teodoro Jr. further stated that the deal will put the Philippines-Australia alliance 'in concrete form' and that it would be 'appropriate' to sign it when the country hosts the ASEAN Summit next year.
He also acknowledged Australia for supporting the Philippines' position under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We are working together in the Indo-Pacific to uphold international law and shared values amid growing challenges,” Teodoro Jr. said.