Australia and the Philippines are confident they are on track to sign a defence cooperation agreement later this year to build on already strong military relations, Defence Mnister Richard Marles says.
The deputy prime minister held talks with his Philippines defence counterpart Gilberto Teodoro in Darwin on Friday.
Their talks took place on the last day of operation Pitch Black, night flying exercises over northern Australia involving dozens of fighter planes and more than 2500 personnel from 21 nations, including the Philippines with 200 personnel.
