The United States insisted that it’s not searching for everlasting bases within the Philippines following the announcement of the areas of the 4 extra Philippine army amenities that could be accessed by US forces below the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
In a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday (Manila time), Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasised that the brand new “EDCA sites” could be for regional readiness and response in opposition to threats and disasters.
“Well, this is more about regional response, regional readiness. This is an arrangement that we have with the Philippines that goes back many years. And in — is an investment in our cooperation with the Philippines in order to better — for better interoperability,” Singh mentioned.
“Again, we do not seek permanent basing in the Philippines and this is just one additional aspect that will increase training between our two countries,” she added.
Despite not searching for everlasting bases within the Philippines, Singh mentioned the extra EDCA websites would imply “an increase of rotational force in the region.”
“This is more about supporting combined training, being able to respond to natural disasters, humanitarian disasters in the region but this is really about regional readiness,” Singh mentioned.
She additional mentioned the enlargement of EDCA websites would make coaching with Filipino troops “more resilient.”
Singh couldn’t present particulars but as to what number of American troopers could be rotated within the websites and when the deployment and rotation would begin.
The Presidential Communications Office introduced that the brand new EDCA websites, thought of “suitable and mutually beneficial,” could be the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has described the extra websites as strategic decisions.
Galvez mentioned these have been “collectively decided” by the Philippines and the United States and that the development would start “immediately.”
Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops entry to designated Philippine army amenities, permits them to construct amenities, and pre-position gear, plane and vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited.
The 5 present EDCA areas are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
