The US Embassy in Manila and the Pentagon welcomed the decision of the Philippines to extend the third extension of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) abrogation.
The two-decade-old agreement was set to expire in August.
“The Department welcomes the government of the Philippines’ decision to again suspend termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
“We value the Philippines as an equal, sovereign partner in our bilateral alliance. Our partnership contributes not only to the security of our two nations but also strengthens the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
The US Embassy in Manila also welcomed the Philippine government’s recent move.
“We welcome the Government of the Philippines’ decision to again suspend termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Our alliance continues to contribute not only to the security of our two nations but also strengthens the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific,” it said.
On Monday, Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced the government extended the suspension of VFA abrogation for another six months.
Locsin said President Rodrigo Duterte decided to suspend the termination of VFA so that both countries could study and address his “concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement.”
US Embassy, Pentagon welcome extension of VFA abrogation
“We are waiting for guidance from the Palace on the specific areas the President would like to look more closely into,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
According to Greg Poling, a maritime security expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, there would be frustration in the US and most Philippine governments.
“It isn’t the worst possible scenario, obviously, but Philippine officials were really signalling that they were confident they had reached a deal Duterte would get on board with, and instead everyone has to remain in limbo for at least another six months,” he said.
“It is now as simple as Duterte doesn’t seem to want it, but everyone else does. If he won’t reverse course, but he also doesn’t want to waste political capital on an unpopular decision heading into election season, then kicking the can down the road is his preferred option,” he added.
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