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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper said the Philippines and the United States tentatively planned to hold a bilateral strategic dialogue to discuss broader commitments between the two countries.
In a telephone interview with a number of newsmen across Asia and the Pacific yesterday afternoon, Asst. Secretary Cooper, speaking from Singapore, where he is scheduled to attend the Singapore Air Show which began today, said there already exists the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States and the Philippines.
“There’s been commitment at ministerial levels, Secretary Pompeo was out there last year and Defense Secretary Esper was there,” Asst. Secretary Cooper said.
He explained the United States remains committed to its role “proving not only assurances, but also resources and our presence with these states in the Indo-Pacific region for them to enjoy their own sovereignty but also to certainly promote regional peace, prosperity and stability.”
He explained the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States of America and the Philippines is “very important” because on an annual basis, the United States has about 300 engagements and exercises conducted bilaterally with the Philippines.
“This is why, from a critical operational standpoint, the necessity to have some sort of agreement to ensure that those exercises can take place unimpeded,” he explained.
Without the Visiting Forces Agreement, engagements and exercises are put at risk, Asst. Sec. Cooper said from an interagency standpoint in the United States and from the inter-ministerial standpoint in Manila, there remains important value “only maintaining our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)” will beget further procurements and interoperability between the US and Philippine alliance.
The VFA, according to Asst. Secretary Cooper, “enables activities including port calls, like engagement, like engagement, like exercises.”
Asked about the possibility of the Philippines’ resolve to forego with the VFA, Asst. Secretary Cooper said he believes nobody in the Philippines would want to put at risk numerous engagements as the Agreement provides a framework that engenders the expected activities.
As of yesterday, Asst. Secretary Cooper said the ongoing conversation between the two countries “hasn’t stopped.” He referred to the United States Embassy in Manila which has a very robust presence and military-to-military channels have remained open.
“We have a significant military exchange throughout International Military Education Training programs with very deep, bilateral relationship with them,” he explained. He admitted they now talking with the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has already submitted its notice of termination Tuesday afternoon to the Deputy Chief of Mission earlier this afternoon.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
