Thailand willing to support Philippine defense industries

VISITING ADMIRAL Defense Undersecretary Angelito de Leon (right) welcomes Adm. Adoong Pan-Inam during a call on July 4. —photo from the DND website

MANILA, Philippines — Thailand has expressed willingness to support Philippine defense industries through enhanced partnerships and collaboration, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Sunday.

This was one of the points taken up as Defense Undersecretary Angelito de Leon welcomed Adm. Adoong Pan-Inam, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Navy, at the DND headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo last week, the DND said. The Thai admiral was in Manila for a three-day visit as a guest of the Philippine Navy.

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During the meeting, De Leon shared the DND’s defense plan called comprehensive archipelagic defense concept, where Thailand could take part as one of the Philippines’ partners in building its own defense industry.

Adoong, for his part, shared Bangkok’s best practices in manufacturing its own ammunition, weapons, missiles and naval assets, particularly its offshore patrol vessels and frigate spare parts, according to the DND.

The Philippines and Thailand have ratified a memorandum of understanding in 2021 to expand defense industrial cooperation, which could include defense trade and joint research, development and production projects.

The Philippines, one of the weakest militaries in the region, first embarked on a self-reliant defense posture during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the 1970s but lost its momentum over the years.

The DND has been pushing to build its own defense industry that seeks preference to local suppliers to promote limited dependence on foreign support for its defense requirements, but their research and development efforts barely get enough funding.

De Leon conveyed potential areas of cooperation, including linkages with tech and systems developers to jointly enhance cybersecurity, and ensure the protection of cybernetworks, the DND said.

Both officials also agreed to increase navy-to-navy engagements through established dialogue mechanisms.