PH, US mark 72nd anniversary of Mutual Defense Treaty

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States on Wednesday marked the 72nd anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two nations.

Signed on August 30, 1951, the MDT states that both countries would support each other if an external party attacked either the Philippines or the United States.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson emphasized Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to the treaty. 

“On the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States stands firm in our ironclad commitment to our alliance and partnership with the Philippines as we face new and continuing challenges.#FriendsPartnersAllies,” said Carlson in a Twitter post.

For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Agular said the MDT “is one of the pillars of our national security.”

“The mechanisms under it shall continue to be implemented to further enhance the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to perform its constitutional duty of protecting  our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Aguilar said in a statement.

Part of the Philippines’ commitment to the MDT is the establishment of nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites inside the Philippine military bases, where US forces are allowed to rotate and store defense equipment and supplies.

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