Marcos seeks more PH-Australia military drills

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is on his way to the viewing deck of Naval Station Leogivildo Gantioqui to watch the highlight of the first-ever Philippines-Australia amphibious exercise in San Antonio, Zambales, on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo from INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza)

ZAMBALES, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants to expand the military exercises between Philippines and Australia.

The Chief Executive will tackle this matter with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when the Australian head of state arrives in the country in September.

“I think we will be discussing for sure also the continuation of this kind of joint exercise to increase our capabilities again,” Marcos said in a chance interview on Friday in Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales.

“That will certainly be part of the discussions that I will be having with Prime Minister Albanese when he comes to visit us here in the Philippines,” added the President.

“I’m sure we will come up with some new strategies and some new ideas, agreements, and in terms of partnership,” he noted.

Philippines has an existing Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia.

Marcos was at the naval station to watch the highlight of the first-ever Philippines-Australia amphibious military exercise.

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