US financing to help ‘offset’ scrapped Russia chopper deal: envoy

CHOPPER DEAL. US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson answers queries during a media roundtable at her residence in Makati on Monday (Oct. 17, 2022). Carlson said the USD100 million in foreign military financing (FMF) the United States is set to provide Manila would help offset the country’s scrapped Russia chopper deal. (Photo: @USAmbPH/Twitter)

MANILA – The USD100 million in foreign military financing (FMF) the United States is set to provide Manila would help offset the country’s scrapped Russian helicopter purchase, the US Embassy in Manila said Monday.

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said Washington DC was “very grateful to the Philippine government for making the decision” to cancel its chopper deal with Moscow, especially in the wake of “Russia’s illegal attack, unprovoked war in Ukraine”.

“[W]e have notified the Congress of our intent to make available to the Philippines USD100 million in foreign military financing which could be used by the Department of National Defense (DND) to offset that Russian helicopter purchase, that would be one example,” she said in a roundtable in Makati.

Carlson, meanwhile, clarified that US would not dictate the modernization efforts within the DND.

The envoy noted that the US also remains committed to working with Manila to ensure a secure Indo-Pacific region.

“[W] e want to make sure that that we ensure a free, open, prosperous and secure world for Filipinos, for Americans, and not just for this region,” she said.

“When the US and the Philippines are working closely together that helps provide that foundation that is so important for overall security,” she added.

Carlson said the US is one with Manila in wanting safe waters for fishermen and sea lanes for transportation, referring to the vital South China Sea.

“[W]hatever we can do military-to-military or people-to-people that ensures that we secure our territorial integrity and that we make our waters safe is what we’re going to do,” she said.

“It doesn’t have to be a joint patrol per se but whatever makes sense,” she added.

‘To new heights’

Before the roundtable, Carlson had her first formal meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo where they discussed ways to elevate the two nations’ partnership “to new heights”.

In a tweet, Manalo said the discussion revolved around the recent conversation between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden in New York.

“We built on the productive conversation between PBBM and POTUS in NY and discussed plans for furthering our longstanding alliance, friendship and partnership to address our shared interests in regional security and prosperity,” the top diplomat said.

Carlson said the US Embassy would also continue to work on Biden’s invitation for Marcos to visit Washington DC.

Aside from deepening the alliance, Carlson highlighted Washington DC’s priorities in Manila, including on health, culture, free press, and human rights.