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The Philippines
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Frances Mangosing
Frances Mangosing

Asian Angle | Is the new Philippines-Germany defence pact built to last?

Rising anxieties over Beijing and Moscow have united Berlin and Manila in an axis that must now be institutionalised to ensure it endures

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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (left) mets his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jnr in Manila last year to discuss defence cooperation. Photo: Reuters
Frances Mangosing
The Philippines and Germany have entered a new chapter in their bilateral relations this year, placing special emphasis on tightening security and defence ties.
In May, Manila and Berlin committed themselves to advancing their security partnership by signing an agreement on defence cooperation. The deal increases collaboration between their military and defence establishments in logistics, cybersecurity, defensive weaponry and UN peacekeeping. It builds on a 1974 agreement that enabled the training of Philippine military personnel in Germany.
The new deal sets the stage for closer collaboration on maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing and crisis-response logistics. It signals a shared understanding that security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Europe are increasingly interconnected and demand cross-regional solutions.
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This development comes on the heels of the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Germany diplomatic relations last year. That milestone saw German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius make a historic visit to Manila – the first by a German defence chief – during which he and Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr announced plans for a bilateral defence cooperation arrangement.

In the same year, Germany was invited to observe the Philippines’ largest military drills for the first time, while two German navy vessels made a port call in Manila – Germany’s first in more than two decades – during their Indo-Pacific deployment.

A German Navy support ship makes a port call in Manila in 2024, the first such visit in more than 20 years. Photo: AFP
A German Navy support ship makes a port call in Manila in 2024, the first such visit in more than 20 years. Photo: AFP

Though geographically distant, the volatile global environment has brought the Philippines and Germany closer in outlook, particularly on security issues and their assessments of major powers such as China and Russia. Both now recognise a growing alignment of strategic interests.

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