The commander of the United States’ Indo-Pacific Command has visited one of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country in what is seen as an affirmation of commitment of support and alliance with the Philippine military.
US Admiral Samuel Paparo was accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. during the visit at the Basa Air Base in Pampanga on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
In a statement, the AFP said the visit was part of the ongoing engagements under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting.
“During their visit, General Brawner and Admiral Paparo inspected the facilities that have been developed under the EDCA between the Philippines and the United States,” the statement read.
“The inspection focused on the improvements and upgrades made to enhance the operational capabilities of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and promote joint interoperability between the two armed forces,” it added.
Brawner said the improvements at the Basa Air Base demonstrate the Philippines and the United States’ commitment to strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.
“This is also aimed at ensuring that our forces are prepared to respond to any security challenge," said Brawner.
"These developments are vital in our pursuit of a modern and credible defense force that can effectively safeguard our nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.
Basa Air Base, one of the sites designated under the EDCA, has been equipped with various infrastructure upgrades and facilities to support the Philippine military’s modernization efforts and contribute to the overall security and defense posture in the region.
The visit came amid what defense and security officials observed as increased muscle-flexing of China in the West Philippine Sea following two recent harassments on Philippine vessels.