The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney and the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., met in Vancouver on July 2, 2026. The Leaders acknowledged the long history of diplomatic and friendly ties between the Philippines and Canada, spanning 77 years of formal diplomatic relations and underpinned by strong people-to-people ties, and shared values of democracy, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to international law.

This is the first visit to Canada by a Philippine President since 2015 and reflects the strong and growing partnership between both countries. President Marcos’ arrival in British Columbia carries with it a symbolic significance for the one million strong Filipino diaspora, as the first Filipino community settlement began in Bowen Island in 1861 upon the arrival of Benson Flores a few years before Confederation.

The President and the Prime Minister welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and committed to work towards expanding the partnership and cooperation of the two countries. The leaders noted that the bilateral relationship has deepened significantly in recent years, with expanded cooperation across defence and security, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties, underscoring that Canada and the Philippines are trusted partners in advancing peace, stability, mutual economic prosperity and global supply chain resiliency.

The Prime Minister and the President welcomed the significant progress made in strengthening bilateral ties and, on that basis, agreed to elevate the Canada–Philippines relations to aStrategic Partnership. They mandated Foreign Ministers to develop an ambitious and forward-looking plan of action to guide this next phase of cooperation and ensure the long-term momentum in their bilateral relations.

They highlighted recent milestones, including the signing of a landmark Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), the signing of a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement (MLSA), the launch of bilateral free trade negotiations and increased diplomatic and development engagement.

Occurring at a time of great uncertainty and continuing disruption in the international world order, President Marcos’ official visit to Canada provided an opportunity for the two leaders to commit to work together inadapting to the shifting global realities, addressing shared challenges, and building capacities for a future-ready partnership.

In adapting to the shifting global realities, the two leaders:

In addressing shared challenges, the two leaders:

In building capacities for a future-ready partnership, the two leaders:

Prime Minister Carney and President Marcos agreed to maintain close engagement and to pursue ambitious outcomes across all areas of cooperation. They expressed confidence that the Canada–Philippines partnership will continue to grow in scope, depth, and strategic importance in the years ahead.