PH, US militaries to implement 500 bilateral engagements in 2024 —AFP

The militaries of the Philippines and the United States (US) are set to implement over 500 bilateral engagements next year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Saturday. 

In a statement, the AFP said the Philippine military and the US Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM) concluded its annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday, September 14.

The MDB-SEB meeting was led by AFP Chief-of-Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. and US INDOPACOM Commander Admiral John Aquilino.

The AFP said the meeting is the culminating activity of the PH-US planning cycle that assessed previous activities and “set out over 500 bilateral engagements for 2024 to include exercises and high-level exchanges between the allied nations, matters of security cooperation activities, and the strategic vision including maritime security, information sharing, and capacity and capability development, among others.”

The AFP said the meeting also resulted in discussions and strategic collaboration reaffirming the steadfast commitment of the PH-US in safeguarding our nations and the Indo-Pacific region.

Brawner and Aquilino have also agreed to expedite the completion of EDCA projects with 63 more projects, in addition to the 32 allocated earlier.

On Thursday, the US INDOPACOM chief said the American military may seek access to more military bases in the Philippines under a joint defense agreement between the two countries. 

Meanwhile, the AFP said the meeting reaffirmed the two nations' commitment to the PH-US alliance as espoused in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the joint pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific region against a backdrop of a rules-based international order.

“These underscores the continued partnership and collaboration between the Philippines and the United States in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts,” said Brawner.

“It signifies our commitment to further strengthen our cooperation, ensuring that both militaries are equipped and well-prepared to respond to evolving security challenges,” added Brawner.

For his part, Aquilino thanked the AFP chief and the National Defense Department for hosting this year’s meeting as he underscored its significance in further “strengthening alliance in order to make sure that the Indo-Pacific remains free for all to prosper in and to live by [our shared values].” —KG, GMA News