1997 PH-Indonesia defense agreement to be renewed during Marcos’ state visit — DFA

President Bongbong Marcos in one of his speaking engagements. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The 1997 Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Field of Defense and Security that the Philippines entered with Indonesia will be renewed during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

During the pre-departure briefing on Friday afternoon, DFA spokesperson Ambassador Teresita Daza explained that the renewal of the agreement, which has expired, is crucial as cooperation initiatives between the two countries are hinged on it.

“The second (deliverable) is […] the renewal of the 1997 agreement on cooperative activities in the field of defense and security.  The active defense and military engagement between our two countries, the Philippines and Indonesia, is really anchored on a 1997 cooperative agreement in the defense and security field, or the DSCA,” Daza said.

“The agreement has expired, and now we are renewing this agreement, it will serve as the mother framework for all defense and security cooperation with Indonesia.  It is very significant as the defense cooperation between the two countries has actually increased through the years,” she added.

Daza said that under the agreement, several areas of cooperation like those “between the defense establishment, engagement in joint and combined training activities, border security, exchange of visits, education, information sharing, development of interoperability” is being eyed.

In the past, several defense cooperation activities with Indonesia were done through the 1997 Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Field of Defense and Security.  Over the years, the Philippine Department of National Defense and the security cluster from Indonesia were able to meet under the mandate of the said agreement.

Just this April, both the Philippines and Indonesia armies held joint exercises.

READ: PH, Indonesian armies to hold joint exercises 

But aside from the defense agreement, Marcos’ delegation will also discuss other matters, including a plan of action for five years which will be signed by the DFA and their Indonesian counterparts.

“So for Indonesia, what is being envisioned is one, the signing of a plan of action for five years which is 2022 to 2027, and this will be signed between the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Indonesia,” Daza noted.

“The plan of action will lay out (a) comprehensive and actionable roadmap for bilateral cooperation over the next five years.  It will be a comprehensive document that outlines bilateral commitments and as well in a wide range of areas of cooperation,” she added.

After his first state visit to Indonesia, Marcos is scheduled to head for Singapore, where he will be meeting with the city-state’s leaders from September 6 to 7.  The Philippine President is also expected to have roundtable talks with business leaders and other sectors in hopes of bringing more investments to the country.

READ: Bongbong Marcos to go on state visits to Indonesia, Singapore; US visit being ‘worked out’ 

READ: Marcos to meet with Filipino communities in Indonesia, Singapore during state visits 

/MUF