The defense departments of the Philippines and Thailand have reiterated their dedication to adhere to the provisions of a 1997 military agreement to revitalize their longstanding defense relations, it was announced on Monday, July 3.
*(Photo: Thailand Ministry of Defence)
* Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said delegations from the two countries met during the 4th Philippines – Thailand Joint Committee on Military Cooperation (JCMC) in Bangkok, Thailand last June 27, which was held again for the first time since August 2019 amid the pandemic era. The Philippine delegation was led by DND Asst. Sec. for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs Pablo M. Lorenzo while the Thai delegation was headed by Gen. Nuchit Sribunsong, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand. They also served as co-chair during the meeting. “During the meeting, both co-chairs reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the 1997 Philippines-Thailand Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Military Cooperation and underscored the importance of annually convening the JCMC meeting,” Andolong said. Aside from that, Lorenzo and Sribunsong also exchanged views and insights on the developments in the region, challenges and potential cooperation on cyber security, and the importance of enhancing capabilities on maritime security. “On bilateral defense cooperation, both sides encouraged deepening military relations, through continued conduct of service-to-service dialogue mechanisms and exploring partnerships on maritime security, cyber security, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and defense industry, among others,” Andolong stressed. He said the two officials also welcomed the crafting of the proposed Philippines-Thailand Defense Engagement Plan (DEP) for calendar year 2023-2024, which will “outline the list of activities to be conducted by both countries with short, medium, and long-term goals.” They also recognized the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the “stabilizing mechanism” and “central platform” in promoting peace and stability in the region. Lorenzo then invited Sribunsong and the Thai delegation to the Philippines for the 5th JCMC meeting in 2024 which will coincide with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Thailand.