The Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing agreement on Monday, bolstering defense ties amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippines and the United States have strengthened their defense alliance by signing a military intelligence-sharing agreement, aimed at enhancing collaboration and addressing regional security challenges.U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) at Manila’s military headquarters. The ceremony also marked the groundbreaking of a new coordination center designed to enhance collaboration between the two nations’ armed forces.
The GSOMIA allows the secure exchange of classified military information. “Not only will this allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States, it will also open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations,” said Arsenio Andolong, spokesperson for the Philippine defense ministry.
Under the leadership of U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the two nations have deepened their security cooperation, particularly in response to perceived Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and near Taiwan. China’s foreign ministry criticized the agreement, stating that military partnerships “must not be directed against or harm the interests of a third party, and they must not undermine regional peace or exacerbate tensions in the region.”
“The only correct choice for safeguarding one’s own national security and maintaining peace and stability in the region is to adhere to good neighborly relations and to strategic autonomy,” said Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry.
The U.S.-Philippines mutual defense treaty, established in 1951, could be invoked in the event of an attack on either party, including in the South China Sea. At the ceremony, Austin reaffirmed U.S. commitment to its ally, saying, “I want to start by underscoring our ironclad commitment to the Philippines.” He added that the new coordination center “will be a place where our forces can work side by side to respond to regional challenges.”
The Philippines has expressed optimism about the alliance’s strength. Both countries face increasing tensions with China over the South China Sea, a vital trade route handling over $3 trillion in annual commerce, which Beijing claims almost entirely. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims had no legal basis, siding with the Philippines. However, China rejected the ruling, leading to confrontations that have turned the region into a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
“The United States’ presence in the Indo-Pacific region is essential for maintaining peace and stability in this region,” said Teodoro, echoing previous comments from President Marcos.
Kazakhstan’s oil exports to Germany are expected to grow in 2026 following an extension of the existing supply agreement, according to Askhat Khasen...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of October, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Israelis held a memorial ceremony in Kfar Aza near the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to commemorate those killed and taken hostages by Hamas on 7 October, 202...
Delegations from Israel and Hamas held their first day of indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday on U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to halt the w...
Indonesian authorities have ended rescue operations on Tuesday at the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo in East Java, where 61 ...
Uzbekistan is strengthening international partnerships in the energy sector, signing several new deals with Gulf and U.S. companies to expand its renewable capacity, modernise production, and attract billions in investment.
The world is naturally concerned about the impact the shuttering of the U.S. government will have on global affairs, trade, and international security. It need not be. The shutdown is more of an idea than event.
American soybean farmers are struggling as China, once their largest buyer, shifts purchases to Argentina amid trade tensions and export incentives.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pledging U.S. military support to defend Qatar if it comes under attack, following last month’s Israeli airstrikes on Doha that intensified regional tensions.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
Authorities in California have identified the dismembered body discovered in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing from Lake Elsinore since April 2024.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israelis held a memorial ceremony in Kfar Aza near the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to commemorate those killed and taken hostages by Hamas on 7 October, 2023.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas held their first day of indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday on U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to halt the war in Gaza, wrestling with contentious issues such as demands that Israel withdraw and Hamas disarm.
Indonesian authorities have ended rescue operations on Tuesday at the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo in East Java, where 61 people were confirmed dead in the country's deadliest disaster this year.
Heads of state are due to start arriving in the Amazonian city of Belém in a month’s time for the United Nations climate summit, yet much of the infrastructure intended to welcome them remains incomplete.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment