US pledges $70-M aid for Phl’s military infra program — US envoy

The United States committed itself to provide a $70 million grant to support the infrastructure improvements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson announced Wednesday.

"In the next two years, the United States expects to spend $70 million for infrastructure improvements for the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Carlson said in her opening speech at the Mangrove Forum held at the US Embassy in Manila.

"These improvements are designed to enhance cooperative defense capacities and support Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response activities, in ways that best meet the needs of the AFP and the Alliance," she added.

The $70 million grant will be on top of the $100 million grant in military modernization support from the US which she announced two weeks ago.

Carlson said the US is "looking at more ways to expand" the EDCA or the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to "directly strengthen our work together."

She reiterated the US' commitment to mutual defense with the Philippines.

"In the South China sea, as allies, we stand together to oppose attempts by those who seek to advance unlawful maritime claims in the Philippine exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf," Carlson said.

"As Secretary of State Blinken publicly stated on 11 July, and I quote, 'an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments,'" she added.

She also reaffirmed the US' recognition of the Philippines' sovereignty, including in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea.

"We appreciate the leadership the Philippines shows by championing freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. And we call upon the PRC to fulfill its treaty obligations under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention to comply with the legally binding decision of the Arbitral Tribunal in 2016, which delivered a unanimous and binding decision firmly rejecting the PRC's expansive and unlawful maritime claims," she said.

"We recognize Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction under the international law of the sea in accordance with that decision, including with respect to maritime zones in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal and Reed Bank. More broadly, we stand with you, our Philippine ally, to consult, assist, deter, and respond to any threats and provocations," she added.

Carlson also noted that the US is looking forward to expanding its economic cooperation with the Philippines, citing that the US remains one of the country's closest economic partners with nearly $30 billion in bilateral trade last year.

"The United States is also the Philippines' third-largest investor, with almost $150 million in new foreign direct investment in 2021," she said.
"US firms — including many household names like Texas Instruments, Concentrix, Chevron, Proctor & Gamble, and Coca Cola – are among the Philippines' top exporters, biggest taxpayers, and largest employers, and many US firms have been active in the Philippines for over a century," she added.