US to continue military aid for PH despite global pause – DFA

U.S. troops look on as Philippine military cadets train at a naval base where the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called “Balikatan” or shoulder-to-shoulder are held in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has exempted the Philippines from its pause on global security foreign aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday.

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza confirmed this matter, saying that the Philippine government has been informed of the “waiver issued to a portion of the US foreign military financing for the Philippines.”

According to Daza, the Philippines and US remain committed to their treaty alliance and to efforts to further strengthen defense cooperation and interoperability.

READ: Impact of US aid freeze on PH: It’s small anyway

“We will continue to engage the US government on the importance of our bilateral work in supporting our shared goals and priorities,” she told reporters in a text message.

A Reuters report earlier disclosed that the Trump administration released $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, mostly for security and counternarcotics programs.

Reuters said it obtained a list of 243 further exceptions approved as of Feb. 13 totaling $5.3 billion.

READ: US aid freeze affects P15 billion worth of DOH, DepEd projects

The list provides the most comprehensive accounting of exempted funds since Trump ordered the aid freeze and reflects the White House’s desire to cut aid for programs that are deemed unimportant to the US’ national security.