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Canada must halt and transparently review the Status of Visiting Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines

Statement
February 9, 2025

ICHRP Canada expresses deep concern over Ambassador David Hartman’s recent announcement that Canada and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). While presented as a step toward regional security, this agreement risks entangling Canada in U.S.-led military expansionism, escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and undermining Canada’s sovereignty and human rights commitments.

A Growing Military Focus Over Diplomacy and Human Rights

As we have highlighted in our correspondence with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister, testimony to the National Defence Committee, the ICHRP-Canada Policy Brief on Indo-Pacific Strategy and our article in The Hill Times, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has increasingly prioritized military alliances over diplomacy and human rights. The SOVFA agreement follows this same concerning pattern—deepening Canada’s role in U.S. military planning while disregarding the worsening repression under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Although full details of the SOVFA agreement remain undisclosed, this announcement—combined with Canada’s existing Indo-Pacific Strategy—raises serious concerns about its implications. Recent U.S. policies in the region have escalated military tensions in the South China Sea, increasing the risk of conflict. Signing this agreement would compromise Canada’s foreign policy independence by aligning too closely with U.S. military objectives.

Key Risks of the SOVFA Agreement

If Canada proceeds with this agreement, it will:

  1. Increase U.S. influence over Canadian defence policy, reducing Canada’s foreign policy independence.
  2. Further militarize the South China Sea dispute, escalating tensions rather than resolving them.
  3. Legitimize Marcos Jr.’s human rights abuses, as military cooperation deepens without accountability measures.
  4. Expose Canada to potential economic fallout, given the U.S.-China history of retaliatory trade measures.

Rather than following Washington’s military-first approach in the Indo-Pacific, Canada must assert its independence by prioritizing diplomacy, peacebuilding, and economic engagement.

A People-Centered Alternative

Instead of expanding its military footprint through agreements like SOVFA, Canada should redirect resources toward development, humanitarian aid, and human rights support for grassroots organizations in the Philippines. This is especially critical following the withdrawal of foreign aid by the Trump administration, which has left civil society groups more vulnerable to repression.

A people-centered Indo-Pacific strategy would better serve Canada’s long-term interests than deepening military entanglements that primarily benefit U.S. security objectives. ICHRP Canada calls on the government to:

  • Increase support for human rights defenders, Indigenous communities, and grassroots organizations resisting state repression.
  • Bolster humanitarian and development initiatives to address poverty, inequality, and climate-related emergencies.
  • Support the peace process instead of agreements that escalate regional tensions.

Lack of Transparency and Public Accountability

Despite repeated warnings from international human rights organizations about ongoing abuses under President Marcos Jr., Canada continues to expand military cooperation with his administration without demanding accountability for these violations. Reports from groups such as Karapatan, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have documented extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and “red-tagging” of human rights defenders and Indigenous communities—practices that lead to arbitrary arrests and assassinations.

Additionally, the lack of transparency surrounding SOVFA negotiations is deeply concerning. ICHRP Canada formally requested a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to SOFA under the Freedom of Information Act but received a fully redacted document, offering no insight into Canada’s commitments. A military agreement with such serious implications must not be finalized without public consultation or parliamentary debate.

This secrecy raises critical questions:

  • What specific commitments is Canada making under this agreement?
  • Will Canadian forces be deployed to the Philippines? If so, under what conditions?
  • Will this agreement entangle Canada in U.S.-led military operations?
  • What safeguards are in place to prevent Canadian resources from supporting state repression in the Philippines?

The Canadian public deserves full transparency on this matter before any commitments are made on their behalf.

ICHRP Canada’s Urgent Call to the Government

Given these concerns, we urge the Canadian government to take immediate action:

  1. Halt the SOVFA negotiations until a full review is conducted on its impact on Canadian sovereignty, regional stability, and human rights accountability.
  2. Reject participation in U.S.-led military escalation in the Indo-Pacific and instead invest in diplomatic and peacebuilding efforts.
  3. Condition any future security agreements with the Philippines on strict human rights benchmarks, including:
    1. The repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which has been used to suppress dissent.
    2. Independent investigations into extrajudicial killings and state repression.
    3. Guarantees that Canadian military cooperation will not be used against activists or Indigenous groups.
    4. Redirect resources toward human rights advocacy, humanitarian aid, and development assistance to counterbalance gaps left by foreign assistance from the U.S.
    5. Ensure full transparency by immediately releasing unredacted details of SOVFA negotiations and allowing civil society input before finalizing any agreement.

Canada Must Stand for Peace and Human Rights

The Canadian government must decide whether it will stand for peace, diplomacy, and human rights—or become complicit in militarization efforts that undermine these values.

We call on civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and policymakers to demand a halt to this agreement and a full, transparent review of its implications.

Join us in calling for transparency, accountability, and a foreign policy that prioritizes peace over militarization.