ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr yesterday reiterated to the United States the Philippines’ commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Brawner reaffirmed the Philippine commitment during the visit of Adm. Stephen Koehler,
US Pacific Fleet commander, at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
In a statement, the AFP said Brawner “expressed his appreciation for the continued support of the United States, reaffirming the strength and depth of the US-PH alliance.”
“He (Brawner) also underscored the AFP’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific through adherence to international law and a rules-based international order,” it added.
The AFP said the meeting served as platform to exploration of “further avenues for interoperability, joint training, and capacity-building” under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
“The AFP and U.S. Pacific Fleet continue to deepen strategic cooperation as both nations confront dynamic security challenges in the Indo-Pacific,” the AFP said.
Also yesterday, Koehler graced the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium at a hotel in Taguig City.
In his address, Koehler noted ongoing efforts of nations in Southeast and Eastern Asia to modernize their maritime capabilities.
“The US Pacific Fleet is proud to play a role in all of that effort with many of our allies and partners, and we look forward to continuing,” said Koehler.
“You know, the success of deterrence and resilience in the face of pressure has much to do with nations taking action to show they cannot be intimidated,” added Koehler.
Koehler noted the Philippines “has decided to stand up and refuse to give in” despite “heavy pressure from China to give ground on its sovereignty and maritime rights.”
“That’s not without risk, and it has not always been easy. So Manila has shown you do not need to be a superpower to effectively defend your sovereign rights,” said Koehler.
Koehler said the alliance of Philippines and US is “stronger than ever.”
He called Philippines as a “true partner” and an “equal partner in the problems that we have.”
“The alliance has gained momentum and evolved significantly,” the official also said.
