Pentagon, US Embassy welcome Philippines' decision to extend suspension of abrogation of VFA

MANILA/WASHINGTON, June 15 ------ The Pentagon and the US Embassy in Manila welcomed the Philippine government's announcement on the third suspension of the decision covering the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that had been due to expire in August. "The Department welcomes the government of the Philippines' decision to again suspend termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

"We value the Philippines as an equal, sovereign partner in our bilateral alliance. Our partnership contributes not only to the security of our two nations, but also strengthens the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific," he said. In a separate statement, the US Embassy in Manila likewise welcomed the Philippine government's latest move. "Our alliance continues to contribute not only to the security of our two nations, but also strengthens the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific," it said.

The Philippines' Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday announced the country has again suspended the decision to scrap the VFA. Locsin said the suspension would be for a further six months while President Rodrigo Duterte "studies, and both sides further address his concerns regarding, particular aspects of the agreement".

The Philippines is a US treaty ally and several military agreements are dependent on the VFA, which provides rules for the rotation of thousands of US troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. Having the ability to rotate in troops is important not only for the defense of the Philippines, but strategically for the US when it comes to countering China's increasingly assertive behavior in the region.

Source: gmanetwork.com