VFA strengthens security ties, benefits Indo-Pacific states: US

MANILA – The United States welcomed on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to restore the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), citing the pact’s importance to the two nation’s security cooperation and the entire Indo-Pacific region.

“The United States welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to recall the abrogation of the VFA. We strongly believe that the VFA, and the broader alliance that the VFA enables, strengthens not only the security of our two nations but also the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific,” the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez hailed the decision as a reflection of the two nations’ “solid relationship”.

“Restoration only means our relationship with the United States remains solid. Our hard work in Washington has paid off,” he told the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

He added that Duterte made his decision after the meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III in Malacañang on July 29.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced Friday the recall of VFA abrogation during his meeting with Austin, a day after the American official met with Duterte.

In February 2020, Duterte ordered the VFA’s abrogation which was eventually postponed three times.

The most recent suspension, announced in June, was to allow Duterte to study it and both sides to “further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement”.

Austin, for his part, said “a strong, resilient US-Philippine alliance will remain vital to the security, stability, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific” and that a “fully restored VFA will help us achieve that goal together”.

Austin also met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Friday to discuss mutual security concerns between the two nations. During the meet, both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the Philippines-US alliance.