By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The Philippines should continue conducting joint military drills with Australia because such exercises have “many benefits,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.
In a recorded interview while in Melbourne, Australia, Marcos said the war games between the Philippines and Australia would help improve Manila’s defense and security capabilities, as well as disaster preparedness.
“This will benefit the Philippines because we are conducting these exercises so that we are able to work together with our foreign partners. And when I say work together, it is not only for defense and security, it is also for disaster preparedness, disaster assistance that they might bring should there be a disaster,” Marcos said, noting that the Philippines is being pummeled yearly by powerful typhoons that have increased in intensity in recent years.
“So, there are many benefits for us, and I think that it is something that we should continue and should encourage,” he added.
Marcos, however, said the conduct of joint military exercises with Australia would depend on the situation on the ground and on mutual agreement between parties.
He said the scheduling is really a risk and would be based on “whether or not the threat levels and the tension levels are increasing or decreasing” in the West Philippine Sea.
“And as to having yearly exercises, well, that’s probably something that we can discuss. But again, we will have to assess the situation at the time, and if we need to continue these exercises, then I think we will be able to agree on that,” Marcos said.
Marcos said he and Australian leaders also discussed the possibility of amending the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and Australia.
He said both countries have expressed openness to amend or upgrade the agreement depending on the need.
Last year, the Philippines and Australia conducted Exercise Alon and the Maritime Cooperative Activity.
Australia has made a commitment to conduct joint military exercises with the Philippines at least once every two years.
Australia is the Philippines’ second-largest partner in defense and security and one of only two bilateral partners with a status of VFA, aside from the United States.
