US, Philippines to share intelligence under new security agreement

The US and the Philippines have signed an agreement to share intelligence gathered by their respective military agencies.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, signed a security agreement that enables the two nations to "safely exchange classified military information." During their meeting in Manila, the ministers also launched the process of establishing a coordination centre aimed at enhancing cooperation between their armed forces, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The security cooperation between the US and the Philippines has intensified under President Joe Biden, driven by growing concerns among both countries' leadership about China's allegedly aggressive policy in the region.

In response to the signing of the new agreement between Washington and Manila, China's Foreign Ministry stated that any military pact or cooperation "should not harm the interests of third parties, should not undermine peace or escalate tension in the region." 

In April 2023, the US and the Philippines agreed to strengthen defence cooperation, with a focus on deterring and responding to potential threats. The two nations maintain a long-standing security alliance, which includes a mutual defence treaty and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). 

This agreement allows US forces to rotate through five Philippine bases, including those near disputed waters. Following the expansion of the EDCA, the US now has access to at least nine military bases in the Philippines. China, the Philippines, and several other countries in the region are engaged in a territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. 

These islands are highly contested due to their rich biological resources, strategic location at the crossroads of vital maritime routes connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and potential reserves of oil, gas, and minerals.

By Naila Huseynova