Top officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently met with diplomats and defense executives from the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Vietnam to discuss regional security dynamics and bilateral opportunities.

DND Officer-in-Charge Jose Faustino Jr. and Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, AFP Chief of Staff, took the opportunity to initiate discussions about the strengthening of defense and military cooperation with the visiting representatives from the four countries.

In a statement Saturday, Sept. 3, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Faustino and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III spoke during a phone call last Sept. 1, marking the first bilateral engagement between the two defense officials since the former’s appointment in June. Faustino also met with Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss on the same day at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Faustino also received US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson and Vietnam Ambassador to the Philippines Hoang Huy Chung when they paid a courtesy visit at the DND headquarters last August 31.

During Faustino and Austin’s phone conversation, the two defense chiefs reaffirmed commitment to the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a defense pact signed on Aug. 30, 1951 which states that both nations would support each other if an external party attacks either of them, according to Andolong.

Andolong said Faustino considers the treaty as the “basis of the Philippines-US alliance and joint defense capability programs” while Austin reiterated that the US’ commitment to the alliance remains “ironclad.” The two defense chiefs also discussed updates on security assistance cooperation and “recent security developments” in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Faustino recommended to US envoy Carlson the potential exploratiin between the two countries in terms of research and development, and how it could support the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program of the DND. Through the SRDP, the DND seeks to develop its own manufacturing capabilities using local resources to address the country's defense needs, and veer away from importation.

“The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining regional stability and freedom of navigation, and highlighted the longstanding partnership between the two countries based on common values,” Andolong added.

Faustino and Ambassador Fluss’ meeting centered on consultations that would broaden the Philippines and Israel’s defense relations, areas of defense and military cooperation, and the AFP modernization program, according to Andolong.

He said Faustino welcomed Israel’s invitation to hold future areas of cooperation including high-level visits, education and training exchanges, intelligence sharing, and SRDP programs, among others. Fluss, for his part, conveyed Israel’s willingness to share its experience and expertise to support the Philippines' capacity-building efforts thru the AFP modernization program.

On the other hand, Faustino and Ambassador Hoang’s meeting focused on exchanging of views on common security concerns of Manila and Hanoi specifically on maritime security since the former is an archipelagic nation while the latter has a long coastline. Andolong said both sides agreed to explore ways to further enhance the cooperation between the Philippine Navy (PN) and Vietnam People's Navy (VPN).

AFP Chief meets UK envoy, defense attache

For his part, Bacarro met with British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils and Capt. Graeme Davis, Non-Resident British Defense Attaché to the Philippines, during a courtesy call last Sept 1.

Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office, said Bacarro extended his appreciation to the United Kingdom for its support to the Philippine position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the latter’s territorial dispute with China.

The AFP leadership previously adapted the Duterte administration’s foreign policy to engage Beijing into diplomatic dialogues and avoid raising the tension in the disputed waters, although it added that not a single inch of the country’s maritime territory would be ceded to any foreign power, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to them.

In turn, Baclor said Beaufils was considering to initiate long-term and short-term agreements that will “enhance further the UK-PH defense cooperation.”