DND readies for Lloyd Austin’s visit next week

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin —Agence France-Presse file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States will review their bilateral defense cooperation during the visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III in Manila next week, according to Department of Defense (DND) chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

The Pentagon announced that Austin would visit the Philippines for the fourth time next week for a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings “to modernize our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“We will have a review of our bilateral cooperation this time. It is once again an opportunity to also lay down some future plans,” Teodoro told reporters in Manila.

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The Philippine defense chief said he and Austin would discuss security sector assistance roadmap and bilateral cooperation issues between Manila and Washington.

Teodoro said Austin’s visit would also be an opportunity to thank the US security official for his contribution in maintaining the strong defense alliance between Manila and Washington.

“I think also it is also an opportunity for us to thank him for what he has done to make the alliance not only bilaterally but multilaterally enduring against the face of a distorted plan of action by China,” he said.

“I once again thank the Filipino people for their support for the President’s stand on the West Philippine Sea and we also thank a bigger amount of like-minded nations that are coming to realize that China’s propaganda is really nonsensical actually,” he added.

During his visit to Manila with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July, Austin announced that Washington was providing $628 million in military assistance to the Philippines.

Austin also said that the United States was committed to “double our investments” for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) Sites in the country as President Joe Biden included in this year’s budget request more than $128 million to fund important Edca infrastructure projects.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier said that Malacañang was confident that Washington’s commitments to Manila under Biden would continue under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.