US, Philippines announce new base

Mar 21 2023 Staff Writer

Philippines and U.S. Announce New Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, says US Official. The Philippines and the United States are set to announce new sites in the near future, according to a US official on Saturday.

The announcement comes as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea.

The EDCA, signed in 2014, allows the United States to rotate troops and military assets through Philippine bases on a temporary basis. This arrangement provides a strategic location for the US to maintain its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, while also enhancing the Philippines’ capacity for external defense.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> Begins Air Base Rehab in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Philippines?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Philippines</a> as Part of Basing Agreement<br><br>The US & Philippines started upgrading the runway of the Basa Air Base in Pampanga on the island of Luzon, one of the 5 original Philippine military sites to host rotating US troops.<a href="https://t.co/gSx5gKrkyh">https://t.co/gSx5gKrkyh</a></p>— Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense News (@IndoPac_Info) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1638461808229982208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The announcement of new EDCA sites is expected to further bolster the military cooperation between the two countries. However, it remains to be seen how China will react to this development, given its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and the United States have been enhancing their defense ties in recent years in response to China’s assertiveness in the disputed waters. In 2020, the two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty that reaffirmed their commitment to defend each other in the event of an armed attack. While the Philippines has sought to balance its relationship with the United States and China, it has increasingly looked to the US for security assistance amid China’s growing influence in the region.

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The new EDCA sites are expected to further strengthen the alliance between the two countries and enhance their ability to respond to security threats in the region. However, the move is likely to draw criticism from China, which views the US military presence in the region as a threat to its territorial claims. As tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate, the announcement of new EDCA sites is likely to be closely watched by regional powers.