APD | Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program between Australia and the Philippines declared

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

An enhanced defense cooperation between the Philippines and Australia will supersede the existing Operation AUGURY-Philippines effective Sunday, December 1,2019.

This was the announcement made by Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, made at the sidelines of the Asian Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Bangkok, Thailand earlier today, November 16.

The cooperation reinforced a shared long-term commitment to countering the regional terrorist threat ad building on the well-established bilateral defense relationship.

Both Minister Reynolds and Secretary Lorenzana recognized that after the siege of Marawi in October 2017, Australia’s contribution under Operation AUGURY-Philippines has provided counter-terrorism capacity training to over 10,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In their joint statement released shortly before 8:00 P.M., it was learned the training cooperation included essential land-based activities focused on urban combat and joint coordination skills, air training focused on enhancing air coordination in the urban environment and maritime training activities.

They agreed on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program will allow the Australian Defense Force to continue delivering the capacity-building support for counter-terrorism cooperation requested by the Philippines.

The Program will also provide funding certainty and greater flexibility to meet the broader needs of the Australia-Philippines bilateral defense relationship.

Minister Reynolds and Secretary Lorenzana agreed that long-term engagement under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program will further strengthen their shared commitment to regional security and stability.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)