US to give $500-M military aid to PH

The United States is set to provide $500 million or about P29.3 billion in military aid to the Philippines, according to Washington's Department of Defense (DOD).

In a news release on July 26, the DOD said US Defense chief Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will announce the assistance package during their visit in the Philippines. The two officials are currently in Manila for the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue.

America's foreign military financing will be provided through the recent national security supplemental passed by the US Congress in the spring, the DOD said.

"This unprecedented provision of security assistance, which is an order of magnitude greater that what we've recently provided to the Philippines on an annual basis will be a critical enabler of the Philippine defense moderation already underway," Austin said.

According to the DOD, the US and the Philippines have nine US rotational access sites in Manila under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allowing them to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels.

In June, the US and the Philippines have committed to invest in Washington's rotational force posture under the EDCA.

Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said Austin and the latter's Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had a phone call after the violent confrontation in Ayungin Shoal on June 17 where one Filipino lost his thumb after being harassed by Chinese forces.

"Both officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Philippine alliance in support of their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through cooperation with like-minded partners and bilateral initiatives to strengthen information-sharing, enhance the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and invest in U.S. rotational force posture under the EDCA," he said in a readout.

The Philippine and US leaders are expected to discuss defense, security, and economic cooperation concerns at the 2+2 Dialogue.

According to government sources, they are expected to tackle the conclusion before yearend of a key information-sharing pact, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).

This will enable real-time information-sharing and technology cooperation across domains. — VDV, GMA Integrated News