FIRST MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 22, 2022. The two leaders are scheduled to meet anew on May 1 during Marcos’ five-day official visit to the US. (File photo courtesy of OP)
MANILA – The United States will be supporting the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by significantly enhancing its maritime and tactical capacity, according to a senior US administration official.
In a transcript of the press call released by the White House (WH) on Monday, the senior administration official said this is part of a series of steps that will deepen the alliance between the US and the Philippines as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to hold bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden.
The senior Biden administration official said among the initiatives of US to boost AFP modernization include the transfer of three C-130 aircraft subject to consultation with Congress, as well as a number of Cyclone-class coastal patrol vessels that "are on their way to the Philippines now."
"We’re looking forward to announcing a new set of bilateral defense guidelines that will deepen our alliance cooperation and interoperability across operational domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace," the senior administration official said.
Another expected outcome for the meetings, according to the official, is the identification of the additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
"This will strengthen Philippine security and support Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization goals. It will also drive US investment in local communities across the Philippines and will increase our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," the official said.
In terms of economic ties, the official announced that there will be a presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines to enhance US companies’ investments in the Philippines’ innovation economy, its clean energy transition and critical mineral sector and the food security of its people.
The official said the US and the Philippines will co-host the sixth annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Manila subject to congressional approval.
"This is the US’s marquee annual commercial event in the region, and we think it’s very appropriate it will be in the Philippines next," the senior administration official said.
The US Trade and Development Agency is also set to launch new sustainable infrastructure activities in the Philippines that will leverage over USD3 billion in public and private financing to strengthen the Philippines’ critical mineral supply chains, advance smart-grid technologies and clean energy solutions, promote 5G deployment, strengthen airport security and maritime safety, and support healthcare infrastructure.
Marcos arrived in Washington, D.C. on Sunday for a five-day official visit aimed at reaffirming the special relationship between the Philippines and the US.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the PR 001 flight carrying Marcos and his official delegation landed at the Joint Base Andrews at 4:55 p.m. Sunday Washington, D.C. time (4:55 a.m. Monday Philippine time).
Aside from strengthening political ties with US during his working visit, Marcos said he would also advance the administration's economic agenda, particularly agriculture, power, infrastructure and new technologies.
“That’s on the economic level... on the political level, it will still be centered around the relationship between the Philippines and the United States… On the, again, the economic side, we will have to go into detail or meeting with many of the big companies who we were not able to see in the other trips, ‘yung sa New York at saka ‘yung sa Davos (those in New York and in Davos),” Marcos said during an interview with the media.
Marcos also talked about keeping peace in the Indo-Pacific region amid global tensions, as well as enhancing the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the global dialogue.
The Philippine President’s itinerary will begin with a meeting with Biden, followed by an expanded meeting with key Cabinet officials.
He is also expected to sit down with legislators, major US companies and business groups. (PNA)
