Philippines, Germany Sign Defense Agreement Expanding Cyber, Logistics, Peacekeeping

Germany and the Philippines have signed an expanded defense cooperation agreement to strengthen military ties amid the ongoing South China Sea dispute with China. The arrangement, signed by defense ministers Gilberto Teodoro and Boris Pistorius, builds on an existing framework dating to 1974 and now includes collaboration in cyber security, defense armament, logistics, and United Nations peacekeeping. This deal is part of the Philippines' broader effort to diversify its defense partnerships beyond the United States, with recent agreements also signed with New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and ongoing negotiations with France. Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated those claims, a decision China rejects. Germany has demonstrated its support for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific with rare warship transits and emphasized adherence to international law. The Philippines is also pursuing a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, underscoring its commitment to global security and multilateral cooperation.