US, Philippines agree to complete road map for security assistance for next 5-10 years

Philippine Defence Chief Carlito Galvez Jr and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands as Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo walks by at the end of a joint press availability at the State Department, in Washington on April 11, 2023. - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The top defence and diplomatic officials from the United States and Philippines agreed on Tuesday (April 11) to complete a road map in coming months to cover the delivery of US defence assistance to the Philippines over the next five to 10 years.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the long-time allies, which share concerns about an increasingly assertive China, discussed delivery of "priority defence platforms" including radars, drones, military transport aircraft and coastal and air defence systems at a so-called 2+2 meeting in Washington that also involved US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine counterparts.