United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced United States$500 million in military assistance to the Philippines in a move aimed at modernizing the Philippine military and coast guard.
The U.S. side said the funds will be used to strengthen security cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, especially in the context of the current challenges facing the so-called "regional security environment."
Blinken and United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to Manila is part of their trip to the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties with allies in the Asia-Pacific region and jointly address regional security challenges. In a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, as well as foreign and defense ministers, Blinken emphasized United States' commitment to strengthening security cooperation with the Philippines, a longtime treaty ally.
The Philippines has repeatedly claimed that it has disputed friction with China in the South China Sea, particularly around Second Thomas Shoal. Recently, the Philippines reached an interim agreement with China to avoid conflict in the region. Nevertheless, Philippine Ambassador to United States Romualazzi said the Philippines will continue to improve its territorial defense capabilities and build new security alliances with the assistance of United States and other friendly countries.
Of the $500 million in military assistance provided by the United States, about $125 million will be used to build and improve military bases in the Philippines. Last year, Marcos approved the opening of four additional Philippine military bases for U.S. forces, based on a defense enhancement cooperation agreement signed in 2014. This shows that while the Philippines is strengthening its own defense capabilities, it is also seeking deeper military cooperation with the United States.
In addition, the Philippines and United States are negotiating a proposed military intelligence-sharing agreement. The agreement would allow United States to provide the Philippines with high-level intelligence, more sophisticated weapons systems, and access to satellite and drone surveillance systems. The agreement, which is expected to be signed later this year, will further deepen cooperation between the two countries in the field of military intelligence.
The satellite and drone agreements are a previously untouched form of assistance to the Philippines that United States could significantly improve the Philippine military's ability to conduct joint operations with the United States military.
The military assistance provided by United States to the Philippines is not only a support for the Philippines' military modernization, but also a part of the United States's strategic layout in the Asia-Pacific region. By strengthening cooperation with regional allies such as the Philippines, United States aims to tighten its containment of China. At the same time, it also reflects the importance that United States attaches to the security commitments of its military allies in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as its intention to intervene in Asia-Pacific affairs.
In the past two years, United States' military assistance to the Philippines has shown a significant increase in depth and breadth. The aid package includes not only the procurement of military equipment, but also the construction and improvement of military bases in the Philippines, especially the multiple military bases approved by Marcos for the opening of additional military bases to the U.S. military.
United States' military assistance to the Philippines is not limited to hardware, but also includes military training and technical support to help the Philippine military improve its tactical capabilities and maintain and operate new equipment. In addition, United States and the Philippines are actively negotiating a military intelligence-sharing agreement that will give the Philippines access to United States high-level intelligence support, as well as more sophisticated weapons systems.
Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos approved a major decision to grant access to four additional military bases to the U.S. military, based on a defense enhancement cooperation agreement signed in 2014. This decision further strengthens the military alliance between the United States and the Philippines and provides more flexibility for the strategic deployment of the US military in the Asia-Pacific region.
The construction and improvement of these bases will be supported by United States military assistance funds, including approximately $125 million earmarked for base-related construction projects. The upgrade and expansion of these bases will strengthen the Philippines' defense capabilities while also providing a solid foundation for the U.S. military presence in the region.