United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III arrived within the Philippines on Tuesday evening.
He was met on the airport by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
Austin will meet together with his Philippine counterpart Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Wheels down in the [PH flag] Philippines where I’ll meet with Secretary of National Defense Galvez & other senior leaders to build on our strong bilateral relationship, discuss a range of security initiatives, and advance our shared vision of a #freeandopenpacific,” Austin tweeted, sharing a video of him being given honors upon disembarking from the airplane.
Among the matters anticipated to be tackled throughout his assembly with Galvez and different senior leaders is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the accord between the US and the Philippines inked in 2014, in keeping with a report on Unang Balita on Wednesday.
The EDCA grants US troops entry to designated Philippine army services, the best to assemble services, and preposition gear, plane, and vessels, however guidelines out everlasting basing.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mentioned final month that the requests and proposals of the US concerning the EDCA are being reviewed.
This is Austin’s second go to to the Philippines, the primary one being in 2021.
“Honored to welcome @SecDef Austin back to the Philippines. His visit shows the United States’ ironclad commitment to our [PH flag] #FriendsPartnersAllies. @DNDPHL,” Carlson tweeted. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
