Philippines Rodrigo Duterte fully restores key United States troop pact
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Last Updated: Jul 30, 2021, 12:45 PM IST
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The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides rules for the rotation of thousands of U.S. troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. It has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China.
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In this handout photo provided by the US Navy, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, along with other vessels, can be seen during a transit of the Philippine Sea
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of U.S. troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila.
Philippines’ Duterte fully restores key U.S. troop pact
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) and Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (R) shake hands after a bilateral meeting at Camp Aguinaldo military camp in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 30, 2021. Rolex Dela Pena/Pool via REUTERS
July 30, 2021
By Idrees Ali and Karen Lema
MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of U.S. troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries’ defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila.
The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides rules for the rotation of thousands of U.S. troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. It has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China.
Reuters
Published: 30 Jul 2021 02:35 PM BdST
Updated: 30 Jul 2021 02:35 PM BdST United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) and Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (R) shake hands after a bilateral meeting at Camp Aguinaldo military camp in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 30, 2021. Rolex Dela Pena/Pool via REUTERS
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of US troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila. );
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The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides rules for the rotation of thousands of US troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. It has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China.
Published July 30, 2021, 5:09 PM
On instructions of President Duterte, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday handed over the diplomatic note recalling the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III after the US have addressed “with good faith” issues arising from the security relationship between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, Locsin said the United States has shown its commitment to fulfill its obligations to the Philippines under the alliance.
Austin was in the country for a two-day visit as part of this three-nation Southeast Asian swing.
US: VFA to bolster rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region gmanetwork.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gmanetwork.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.