The Philippine Army (PA) is forging a closer military cooperation with the United States as it implements a shift in its operational strategy from internal security to territorial defense.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general, revealed this during the visit of James Hursch, director of the US Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DoD-DSCA), at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on Friday, Feb. 24. 

During their meeting, Brawner told Hursch that the Army is prioritizing its modernization thrust and its “gradual shift” from internal security to territorial defense operations.

“The Army Chief and the DSCA Director also talked about bolstering bilateral training and education programs between the two militaries,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson.

For the longest time, the Army has focused on internal security operations to eliminate terrorists, communist rebels, and other internal security threats.

But recent security challenges threatening the external defense of the country, such as the tension in the West Philippine Sea, prompted the Army leadership to realign its priorities and change its focus to territorial defense.

Earlier this month, the Philippines and United States agreed to establish four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites where American troops and assets can be stationed within the bases of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on a rotation basis for the possible conduct of joint operations.

Hursch’s visit is perceived by the Army as a follow-up to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s thrust to “forge closer ties” between the US and Philippines’ defense establishments.