Stratbase Institute President and CEO Prof. Dindo Manhit was invited to a private roundtable discussion, alongside Philippine and Canadian private sector partners of the Embassy of Canada, to meet with the Canadian Minister of International Trade the Honourable Maninder Sidhu. Minister Sidhu was also the National Campaign Co-Chair for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

Their discussions revolved around fostering stronger trade partnership between Canada and the Philippines, especially in the defense industry.  The Philippines urgently requires the credible capability to assert, defend, and operationalize the ruling to ensure that its principles are upheld and its relevance endures in the face of continuing coercion from our northern neighbor. 

The country needs capable and reliable partners such as Canada who is well-positioned to play a larger role in the Philippines’ defense modernization and broader security efforts.