Deal covers classified military information
THE Philippines and the United States yesterday signed an agreement that allows the two countries to share classified military information, a move seen further deepening their defense ties.
The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and his visiting American counterpart, Lloyd Austin III, who later led groundbreaking ceremonies for the Combined Coordinating Center that will serve as information sharing gateway.
The two did not give any statement about their meeting or the agreement that they signed.
The Philippine Department of Defense (DND), through spokesman Arsenio Andolong, said the agreement marks “another significant strike in the enduring Philippine-US alliance.”
“Aside from enabling mutual access to classified military information, the signing of the GSOMIA opens opportunities for the Philippines to enter into similar agreements with other like-minded nations,” Andolong said.
After the agreement signing, Teodoro gave Austin an Outstanding Achievement Medal for his role in significantly bolstering the relations of the United States and the Philippines.
“He (Austin) has been instrumental in reinforcing the enduring partnership between our two nations, ensuring that our shared values of democracy, freedom, and peace continue to guide our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the citation read.
“Secretary Austin’s remarkable contributions have not only strengthened the Philippine-US defense relationship but have also played a central role in advancing regional stability and security,” it further said.
It said Austin’s contribution did not only strengthen the alliance of the Philippines and US but also played a “central role in advancing regional stability and security.”
UNITED FORCES
After the ceremony, the two defense chiefs proceeded to another area inside Camp Aguinaldo for the groundbreaking ceremony for the CCC facility.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner said the groundbreaking “represents not only the construction of a facility, but the solidification of our commitment to one another, ensuring that our forces stand united in the face of challenges.”
He also said the facility will be “a vital nexus for our joint operations, a gateway for information sharing and strategic coordination. “
“It will enhance our ability to collaborate during crisis, fostering an environment where our strengths combine to safeguard peace and security in our region,” he added.
Austin, in his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, “I want to start by underscoring our ironclad commitment to the Philippines.”
He said the coordination center should enable real-time information sharing between the two defense treaty allies and boost interoperability.
“It will be a place where our forces can work side by side to respond to regional challenges,” he said.
Teodoro thanked Austin “for the genuine affection that he has displayed, not merely in words, but more importantly in concrete actions for the people of the Republic of the Philippines and for the values that we stand for.”
He said Malacañang, the DND, and the Armed Force are aware of Austin’s “wholehearted support” to strengthen the already enduring alliance of the two nations.
Teodoro reiterated the statement of President Marcos Jr that US presence in the Indo-Pacific region “is essential for maintaining peace and stability in this region. He has said it, no ifs nor buts.”
He said the construction of the Combined Coordinating Center is part of the “strategic approach to facing our shared threats, that both of our countries have invested a lot of resources, a lot of manpower, and a lot of brainpower in.”
Security engagements between the United States and the Philippines have deepened under President Joe Biden and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with both leaders keen to counter what they see as China’s aggressive policies in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
The two countries have a mutual defense treaty dating back to 1951, which could be invoked if either side came under attack, including in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has expressed confidence the alliance will remain strong under incoming US president-elect Donald Trump.
Both the Philippines and the United States face increasingly aggressive actions from China in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce, which it claims almost entirely as its own.
In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis, siding with the Philippines which brought the case.
But China has rejected the ruling, leading to a series of sea and air confrontations with the Philippines that have turned the highly strategic South China Sea into a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
“The United States’ presence in the Indo Pacific region is essential for maintaining peace and stability in this region,” Teodoro said during the inauguration, echoing previous remarks made by Marcos. – With Reuters
