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The US defense chief announced on Tuesday, December 8, the delivery of weapons worth almost $ 30 million to the Philippines, which faces threats from militants linked to the Islamic State group.
Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller made the announcement during a brief visit to Manila, where he met with his Philippine counterpart and the Foreign Secretary. The weapons, including equipment for snipers and bomb squads, were surrendered before Miller’s visit, authorities said.
“The new equipment will strengthen the joint precision strike, sniper, river and counter-improvised explosive device capabilities of the Philippine Armed Forces,” the US Embassy said in a statement, without elaborating.
The Department of Defense in Manila said Miller told Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the United States will also deliver a Lockheed C-130 transport plane to the Philippine military later this month. No further details were given. Lorenzana thanked the United States for helping the Philippines strengthen its defense capacity.
Miller said his talks with Lorenzana and Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. focused on “deepening our alliance and supporting a free and open region of the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific.”
Miller is the latest top US security official to visit Manila and announce defense assistance to America’s oldest ally in Asia. The visits project normality in Washington’s foreign relations as President Donald Trump continues to question the results of the November 3 presidential election.
US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien visited Manila three weeks ago and announced the delivery of precision-guided missiles and other weapons to help the Philippines fight Muslim militants. He also renewed his promise to defend the Philippines if attacked in the disputed South China Sea.
O’Brien reiterated US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement earlier this year that “any armed attack against Philippine public forces, aircraft or vessels in the South China Sea will activate our mutual defense obligations. “.
O’Brien expressed hope that a security agreement will be maintained that will allow US forces to train in large-scale combat exercises in the Philippines.
President Rodrigo Duterte moved to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States earlier this year, but later pushed back the date the decision would take effect until next year, a move welcomed by O’Brien. (AP)
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