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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Teodoro: Change in US leadership won't affect defense ties with PH

Teodoro: Change in US leadership won't affect defense ties with PH

Published Jul 31, 2024 09:16 am
gilberto teodoro dnd 2+2 meeting.jpg
(L-R) US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin III, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Sec. Enrique A. Manalo, and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. pose for a photo during the fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 30, 2024. (Photo: DND)

The robust defense and security relations between the Philippines and United States will not be affected by Washington's change in leadership in the upcoming US presidential elections in November.

Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. believes that the relations of the two countries “is based on two fundamental things”: sustainability and sharing of common principles.

“Our engagements have always been on the principle of sustainability and not of one-time things. Secondly, we share fundamental principles of adherence to international law and rules-based international order,” Teodoro said during the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on Tuesday, July 30.

These are the reasons why, according to Teodoro, the victory of either of the two presidential aspirants, Vice Pres. Kamala Harris or re-electionist Donald Trump, will not change the way how the US helps its oldest treaty ally in the Indo-Pacific region.

“No partisan political position can denigrate from these fundamental principles because these are good things, right things that should be encouraged and developed. So I do not see any partisan political detraction from our positions because they are based on principle,” Teodoro stressed.

The 2024 United States presidential election will be held on November 5. Incumbent President Joe Biden backed out of the race, paving the way for Harris to test the political battlefield against Trump.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the pronouncement of the US government that it will provide $500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines to help modernize the latter’s military and coast guard.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines warmly acknowledges the allocation of USD $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF),” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Wednesday, July 31.                                      

“It highlights the steadfast support for enhancing the capabilities of the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard, ensuring we can effectively fulfill our territorial defense mission and contribute to regional security and maintaining a free and open Indo-pacific,” she added.

The priorities for the FMF will be laid down in the Bilateral Security Sector Roadmap, which outlines the determined priority defense capability requirements of the Philippines through the help of US capacity-building efforts, programs, and activities over the next five to ten years. 

Part of the discussion is increased investments for the PH-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) locations and strengthening of the DND and AFP cybersecurity capabilities.

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