Defense, security remain key for Phl-U.S. ties
We were able to discuss forward-looking, practical and tangible ways on how to empower our partnership through improving defense cooperation across various lines of efforts.
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Daily TribuneWe were able to discuss forward-looking, practical and tangible ways on how to empower our partnership through improving defense cooperation across various lines of efforts.
Share
The Philippines' defense and security engagement with the United States of America will remain the key pillar of bilateral relations between the two countries, Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. said.
Faustino noted the Philippines will continue to stand by its mutual defense treaty with the US, which has been the basis of the national defense policy of the country.
The Defense official met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III at the US Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii on 26 September.
The meeting between Faustino and Austin came at the culmination of the planning cycle of the Philippines and the US bilateral defense activities for next year.
The Defense chief said the bilateral meeting was a "welcome opportunity" to discuss the way ahead for the Philippines-US alliance.
In a statement issued on Friday, he said the meeting highlighted the importance of the bilateral defense relations of the Philippines and the US.
"We were able to discuss forward-looking, practical and tangible ways on how to empower our partnership through improving defense cooperation across various lines of efforts," Faustino said.
For more than 70 years, the Philippines and the US had a shared history as friends, partners and allies, he said.
