Arrr! France and Philippines be chattin' 'bout joinin' forces, says French messenger. Aye, let the parley begin!
2024-04-25
Arrr! France and the Philippines be plannin' to parley next month about joinin' forces for a defense pact! They be talkin' 'bout lettin' their troops roam each other's land for some jolly good exercises. Avast, me hearties! Let the discussions begin!
Arr matey! France and the Philippines be settin' sail on talks fer a defense pact next month, allowin' troops from each country to have a go at exercises on t'other's territory, as the French ambassador spilled the beans Thursday.The French and Philippine officials be gatherin' in Paris next month to chat about a visiting forces agreement, as French Ambassador Marie Fontanel announced.She mentioned that the defense bigwigs of both countries agreed back in Manila last December to chase after such an accord.Fontanel blurted out at a news conference with French Ambassador to the Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour, "We'll have a chance in May to maybe start formally negotiatin' or at least yak about the details."Philippines be cozy with the United States and Australia with status-of-forces agreements, and now be lookin' at Japan and France too, all due to squabbles with China in the South China Sea, which have led to tiffs and scrapes at sea.France be rampin' up its security ties with the Philippines, sendin' a navy ship to join in combat exercises with the U.S. and Philippine navies in the South China Sea to keep the waters safe and abide by international laws.China be growlin' at the drills, but the Philippines be dismissin' the objections, sayin' the exercises be about bolsterin' their defense and not about causin' trouble.