As early as now, the Philippine Army (PA) and United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) are already planning the conduct of future activities such as exercises, bilateral engagement strategies, and other security cooperation initiatives in the face of growing security challenges in the Pacific region, a ranking military official bared Saturday, Nov. 19.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson, said the PA co-chaired the 11th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) hosted by the USARPAC from Nov. 16 to 17 at the PA Officers’ Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Col. Benjamin Leander, PA assistant chief of staff for plans, led the Philippine side during the meeting while Col. Thomas Scott, USARPAC director of the security cooperation division, represented the US team during the virtual activity.
Meanwhile, Col. Eldridge Singleton, US Army Attache to the Philippines, physically attended the meeting with representatives from the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG)-Philippines and liaison officers from USARPAC.
The virtual activity “serves as a venue and planning platform for the Philippine Army – US Army Pacific future activities,” Trinidad said.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the administrative and substantive requirements for the annual 11th Executive Steering Group (ESG) Meeting which will be co-chaired by the Commanding Generals of the PA and USARPAC in 2023, according to Trinidad.
“The meeting also deliberated important plenary discussions such as Agreed-to-Actions Review, SALAKNIB 2024-2025 Concept Brief, Significant Security Cooperation Initiatives (SSCI), PA-USARPAC Construction Goals, and the five-year Bilateral Engagement Strategy,” he added.
The army-to-army meeting was the latest cooperation between the Philippines and United States as both countries address mutual security concerns in the Pacific.
In October, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general, held bilateral talks with Lt. Gen. James Jarrard, USARPAC deputy commanding general, in Australia on the sidelines of the International Land Defence Exposition 2022. The two officials agreed to sustain partnership, particularly on training and subject matter expert exchanges aimed at capacity-building.
This was followed by Jarrard’s visit to the PA headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Nov. 2 to discuss security concerns and matters that were “mutually beneficial” for both forces.