The Philippines and Germany Enter a New Era of Defence Cooperation

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 2025, Manila and Berlin committed themselves to advancing their security partnership when they signed an “agreement concerning defence cooperation”. The deal specifically increases collaboration between their military and defence establishments in the areas of logistics, cybersecurity, defensive weaponry, and UN peacekeeping. It builds on the 1974 Administrative Agreement on the training of Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel in Germany.

The new deal sets the stage for closer collaboration on maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing, and logistics for responding to crises. It signals a shared understanding that security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Europe are increasingly interconnected and demand cross-regional solutions. This development comes a year after the 70th anniversary of Philippines–Germany diplomatic relations, when German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made a historic visit to Manila – the first by a German defence chief. There, he and Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced their intention to pursue a bilateral arrangement on defence cooperation. That same year, Berlin was invited to observe the Philippines’ largest military drills for the first time, and two German navy vessels made a port call in Manila – Germany’s first in more than two decades – during their Indo-Pacific deployment.

The Philippines and Germany may be geographically distant, but the unstable global situation has brought their views closer together on security and on major powers like China and Russia, leading the two nations to recognise an alignment of their security interests.

China’s increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea – including coordinated naval and coastguard operations and sweeping territorial claims – pose direct challenges to Philippine sovereignty. Beijing’s refusal to comply with the 2016 arbitration ruling and its selective interpretation of UNCLOS (the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) continue to heighten tensions. While Manila won the landmark legal case, it remains constrained in enforcing the decision. Germany, as the world’s third-largest economy and the Philippines’ biggest trading partner in the EU, is paying increasing attention to how China’s coercive behaviour threatens global trade routes, Indo-Pacific security, and the stability of the Taiwan Strait. Nearly 40 per cent of Germany’s non-EU foreign trade involves partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Germany sees Russia as the biggest threat to Europe’s security. Moscow had already launched a hybrid war against the West prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including massive intelligence operations in Germany and other European nations, hacker and sabotage attacks, and disinformation campaigns. The Philippines, too, is concerned about Russia’s geopolitical footprint, especially its war in Ukraine and its tightening partnership with China, both of which have ripple effects on regional stability and the security dynamics surrounding Taiwan. The deepening alignment between Beijing and Moscow – whose activities challenge international norms and regional balances – intensifies the threat environment in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.  These countries will continue to test how far they can push their aggression, so the more countries like Germany and the Philippines share ideas, the more prepared they both are.

The new deal … signals a shared understanding that security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Europe are increasingly interconnected and demand cross-regional solutions.

As a staunch advocate of multilateralism and international law, Germany sees the Philippines as a natural partner that shares these values, particularly in confronting maritime challenges. The Philippines, for its part, has been broadening its defence network beyond traditional allies in response to China’s growing assertiveness. The new defence cooperation agreement thus reflects a mutual resolve to deepen and diversify their strategic partnership. Since the signing, there has been quiet but meaningful progress – such as discussions on another potential defence-related agreement. This is important because it reflects growing trust, confidence, and a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability. And the upcoming posting of a German defence attaché in Manila is another clear signal that Germany wants to work more closely with the Philippines.

Germany can play an important role in boosting the Philippines’ defence capabilities through training, modernisation assistance, and capacity-building programmes. Manila can also draw valuable lessons from Berlin’s experience in countering disinformation and foreign malign influence. The two countries could also explore ways to safeguard critical infrastructure, particularly in the cyber and maritime domains, including sea cables. There will also be value in learning from each other’s experiences – whether in dealing with disinformation, foreign interference, or military threats from Russia and China.

Next year, under the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN, Germany is expected to step up its engagement with the regional bloc. The ASEAN-Germany Development Partnership marks its 10th year in 2026. And, in February last year, Germany was officially accepted as an observer, along with Turkey, in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting for the period 2024 to 2027.

The Philippines hopes that Germany will support its bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council next year. Manila has committed itself to advocating for multilateralism, the pacific settlement of disputes, and respect for international law if its bid is successful.

Manila and Berlin are helping to shape a more stable Indo-Pacific and a more secure Europe with this promising security partnership.  So many “firsts” have taken place since last year, and there are probably many more to come. The new agreement is proof that both sides currently have the political will to make this relationship meaningful. But while the expanding security collaboration between Germany and the Philippines is promising, its momentum is far from certain. Berlin’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific could lose steam if domestic and regional pressures begin to overshadow its outward focus and compel it to redirect its resources and attention back to its immediate neighbourhood. For Manila, the task is to ensure that Germany continues to recognise the strategic value of sustained cooperation – whether in safeguarding supply chains, upholding a rules-based maritime environment, or broadening partnerships beyond Europe. The two nations should increase institutionalised defence links, bolster economic ties, and encourage more frequent high-level communication to protect the partnership from short-lived disruptions. If these initiatives are successful, the current collaboration might develop into a solid, mutually supporting foundation of Indo-Pacific security.

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