New york: The Philippines and the United States have agreed to enhance their defense cooperation with a shared objective of ensuring a 'stable and secure' Indo-Pacific region. This development came during a meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and US Undersecretary of War for Policy Eldridge Colby, marking the beginning of the Philippine President's two-day working visit to New York.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released a statement on Tuesday highlighting the meeting's focus on accelerating the defense partnership between the two nations amidst evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The statement also emphasized the renewal of commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty, which remains a cornerstone of the alliance between the Philippines and the US.
Both President Marcos and Undersecretary Colby stressed the importance of strengthening deterrence and maintaining regional stability through closer military coordination. They outlined the need to improve interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military, particularly through joint operations and training activities.
One of the key initiatives discussed was Exercise Balikatan, a long-standing joint military exercise between the Philippines and the US, which is set to commence next month. This exercise aims to enhance the readiness and coordination of both forces while reinforcing their ability to address various security challenges in the region.