Washington confirms that it has received the notice from the
Philippines which calls for the termination of the Visiting Forces of Agreement
(VFA) between Manila and the United States of America (USA).
According to US Defense Secretary Mark
Esper ,
"I do think
it would be a move in the wrong direction as — as we both bilaterally with the
Philippines and collectively with a
number of
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| (photo credit to owner) |
"And as we try and, you know, bolster our presence
and compete with them (China) in this era of great power competition, I think
it's a move in the wrong direction..." he also said.
"[T]he United States has about
300 engagements and exercises that we conduct bilaterally with the
Philippines," he said.
"What’s at risk without a VFA?
Well, without a VFA, it puts at risk things like these engagements, like
these exercises," he said, adding that there is "a recognized, broad
value of not only maintaining our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that
will beget further procurements and interoperability between the
U.S.-Philippine alliance, but the very practical application of a Visiting
Forces Agreement that enables these activities like port calls, like
engagements, like exercises."
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