The United States and the Philippines have entered into a new military cooperation agreement to enhance intelligence-sharing and facilitate the transfer of advanced U.S. weapons systems to Manila.
The agreement enables the United States to share classified military information, including operational details required for handling sophisticated weapons like missile systems.
Philippine Defense Ministry spokesperson Arsenio Andolong stated, “Not only will this allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States, it will also open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations.”
Previous attempts by the Philippines to acquire advanced weaponry from the U.S. military were hindered by the absence of such an intelligence-sharing pact.
This deficiency left Philippine forces struggling in 2017 to combat ISIS-affiliated militants who had seized control of the southern city of Marawi.
As U.S. President Joe Biden’s term nears its end, this deal represents a significant achievement in the administration’s efforts to strengthen regional partnerships.
The U.S.-Philippine partnership could play a vital role in counteracting China’s expansionist endeavors in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Austin and Teodoro participated in a groundbreaking event for a new center at Camp Aguinaldo, where the U.S. and Philippine armed forces can coordinate joint operations in the future.
“The best course of action to safeguard national security and regional peace and stability is to uphold friendly relations with neighbors and maintain strategic autonomy,” remarked the Chinese spokesperson.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this article.
