The Department of National Defense (DND) said Monday, Oct. 21, that it has talked about the planned capability upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the conclusion of an intelligence-sharing agreement with the United States Department of Defense (US DoD).
This, as the DND welcomed newly-designated US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for South and Southeast Asia Laura L. Updegrove to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Oct. 17 during her courtesy call.
She was hosted by DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio B. Madriaga and Undersecretary for Administration Gavin D. Edjawan.
During the meeting, Madriaga underscored the importance of working closely with allies and like-minded partners in pursuing a collective approach of upholding the rules-based international order over the Indo-Pacific region.
“The two officials discussed the implementation of the Philippines-Security Assistance Roadmap (P-SSAR) to address much-needed capability upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as well as the conclusion of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) by the end of the year, with the view of enabling real-time exchange of classified intelligence and information,” DND spokesperson Asst. Sec. Arsenio Andolong said.
Finalized on July 29, 2024, the P-SSAR outlines the bilaterally determined priority capability requirements of the AFP and the PCG to be supported by Philippine national funds and U.S. capacity-building efforts, programs, and activities.
The P-SSAR, which aligns the joint priorities of the Philippines and the United States, will guide shared defense modernization planning and investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next five to ten years.
Meanwhile, the GSOMIA is an agreement between Manila and Washington which aims to lay the foundation for enhanced, expanded, and timely sharing of information and defense technology. It is seen to be concluded by the end of this year.
According to the DND, this was the first visit to the Philippines of DASD Updegrove.
“Aside from the visit serving as her introductory engagement with DND officials, it also provided an opportunity to discuss the current progress of the Philippines-US defense alliance as well as exchange views on the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea and the wider South China Sea,” Andolong said.
Updegrove and Madriaga also explored ways in meeting the bilateral defense priorities of the two countries based on the outcomes of the 4th Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Dialogue in July to reaffirm their “ironclad alliance”.
Madriaga welcomed the continuous conduct of the maritime cooperative activities (MCAs), both bilaterally between the Philippines and the US, and multilaterally with other partners. The latest multilateral MCA was held last Sept. 27.
Next month, DND and US DoD officials are set to meet again for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR).