Philippines, France near defence pact to boost ‘operational intimacy’ in contested waters

A visiting forces military deal to be signed between the Philippines and France has put the focus on “operational intimacy”, with observers noting that Paris has a presence in the Indo-Pacific and would serve Manila’s interests well in the contested waters of the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.The term was coined by Associated Press correspondent Jim Gomez and confirmed by French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel during a freewheeling discussion on Tuesday at her residence.In a bid to balance the implications of the alliance – a first for the Philippines with a European power – Fontanel also said while her country was a United States ally, it would steer clear of a “US-China confrontation”.Addressing the Status of Forces Visiting Agreement (Sofva), she quipped: “With the French, you always wish for intimacy anyway. The Sovfa negotiations are now in its final stage and [the signing] may happen in the first semester of the year.”The Philippines is also exploring similar pacts with the United Kingdom and Germany.The first round of Sofva negotiations took place in Paris early last year and the second round months later in Manila. According to the Philippines’ Department of National Defence assistant secretary for international affairs Marita Yoro, “Sofva is crucial in establishing a clear legal framework to support joint military activities”.