(UPDATE) THE Philippines and New Zealand on Wednesday signed a defense deal that will enable both nations' armed forces to conduct joint exercises and other security engagements.

The Status Visiting Forces Agreement (Sovfa) was signed by New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during the former's courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

In his remarks, Marcos thanked the New Zealand government for the progress in the two countries' partnership "in the face of all that is happening" not only in the region but in the entire world.

"Those partnerships that we have formed, the agreements that we have made, bilaterally and on a multilateral basis as well, have been extremely important," Marcos said.

The signing of Sovfa followed a commitment made by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Marcos during the former's visit to Manila last year.

The Sovfa will undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate.

It builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defense cooperation, the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement in 2024 and the Defense Cooperation Arrangement in 2012.

The new defense deal aligns with the Philippines' broader strategy to deepen security partnerships with like-minded nations in response to growing assertiveness by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Manila's Sovfa with New Zealand, similar to a Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, will provide the legal framework for temporary visits by New Zealand troops for joint training and exercises. It has a similar agreement with Australia.

Manila signed the same pact with Japan in 2024 that's awaiting ratification this year by Japan's parliament, and has recently concluded negotiations with Canada.

Meanwhile, Collins said the agreement "formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories."

She also thanked Marcos for taking the time to meet her and expressed her sympathies to the Filipino victims of the street party tragedy in Vancouver, Canada.

"The relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, I believe, is very strong. I would like to acknowledge the tragedy in Vancouver, Canada, that affected some Philippine citizens," Collins told Marcos.

"It is a terrible tragedy that things like that happen. I know that the whole community of the Philippines will be feeling for those families that have been so badly affected," she added.