Philippines and UAE Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
DEFENSE
The Philippines and the UAE have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Philippines' first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country, aimed at boosting trade and investment. During her visit to the UAE, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro also discussed defense cooperation, emphasizing the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers' welfare, as highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Jan 15, 2026, 6:10 AM