Binigyan ng Estados Unidos ng P183 milyong halaga ng mga armas at iba pang kagamitang-militar ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) para sa mas matatag na counterterrorism at maritime security.
Sa pamamagitan ng Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG), ipinamigay ang mga armas katulad ng M3P.50 caliber heavy machine guns, 10 mortar tubes, at iba pang kagamitan.
“The United States will continue to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capacity building efforts through joint training and key military equipment transfers,” ani JUSMAG-Philippines Chief and Senior Defense Official to the Philippines Col. Stephen Ma.
“Our mutual security collaboration remains a cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” dagdag niya.
Ang Pilipinas ang tumatanggap ng pinakamalaking military assistance mula sa Estados Unidos sa Indo-Pacific Region. Simula 2015, aabot sa P48 bilyon ang natanggap ng Pilipinas.
Sa paggunita naman ng ika-70 taon ng paglagda ng mutual defense treaty, umaasa si Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez na maisapinal na ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
“The VFA has benefited our military of which Sec. Lorenzana has confirmed on several occasions… We’re hoping it would be better than it ever was in terms of the agreement we have with them and mutually beneficial to both our militaries,” sabi ni Romualdez nitong Lunes. – Ulat ni Naomi Tiburcio/AG-rir
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