By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG

The Philippines and United States are looking forward to the conclusion of a military information sharing agreement which will further strengthen the security alliance between the two countries.

The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is a bilateral agreement which allows for the exchange of sensitive military information that is being worked on by Manila and Washington. It is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

To fast-track the finalization of the GSOMIA, General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) of the United States (US), discussed the status of the negotiations with Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during his visit at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, July 16.

“Both officials [Teodoro and Brown] expressed optimism about the General Security of Military Information Agreement, noting that it is on a positive trajectory,” Andolong said.

The two countries have been trying to conclude the GSOMIA since 2021 but it never materialized due to challenges.

Later this year, a “2+2” meeting between top defense and foreign officials of the Philippines and US will be held for the planned GSOMIA, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Once finalized, both countries will be able to enhance their mutual defense capabilities in response to regional security challenges.

Meanwhile, Teodoro also stressed the need to address critical concerns, especially in the information and communications technology (ICT), and cyber domains as the country continues to face different forms of cyberattacks.

“Our cyberspace is the most vulnerable in the defense establishment, and the most aggressive attacks come from state and non-state actors. In this age of disinformation, maintaining robust cybersecurity is paramount,” Teodoro stated.

Brown, for his part, acknowledged the strong relationship between the Philippines and the United States as he emphasized the importance of his visit in sustaining the momentum of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation.

Brawner, on the other hand, expressed the AFP's satisfaction with the visit of his counterpart, seeing it as a reaffirmation of the robust Philippines-US military relationship.

“This visit sends a strong message to our neighbors and signals that our military-to-military relationship is strong. We hope that General Brown's visit will be beneficial for both the Philippines and the US,” Brawner said.