Philippine Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense Carlito Galvez (from left) Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, attend a joint news conference at the State Department, April 11, 2023, in Washington. (PHOTO / AP)

WASHINGTON - The top defense and diplomatic officials from the United States and Philippines agreed on Tuesday to complete a road map in coming months to cover the delivery of US defense assistance to the Philippines over the next five to 10 years.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the long-time allies discussed delivery of "priority defense platforms" including radars, drones, military transport aircraft and coastal and air defense systems at a so-called 2+2 meeting in Washington that also involved US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine counterparts.

Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo told the same news conference the two sides "redoubled" their commitment to modernizing the Philippines-US alliance in recognition that "our partnership will need to play a stronger role in preserving an international law-based international order"

A joint statement said "adoption of a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap in the coming months will guide shared defense modernization investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next 5 to 10 years."

Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo told the same news conference the two sides "redoubled" their commitment to modernizing the Philippines-US alliance in recognition that "our partnership will need to play a stronger role in preserving an international law-based international order."

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Experts say the United States sees the Philippines as a potential location for rockets, missiles and artillery systems.

Austin said that it was "too early" to discuss what assets the United States would like to station at Philippine military bases under a recently expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Manalo said the EDCA sites were mainly aimed at improving military interoperability, addressing potential humanitarian disasters "and perhaps respond to other types of security challenges," but did not elaborate.

The Pentagon has not specifically said what the additional sites will be used for, except that work would include airport expansion and training involving naval assets.

Manalo said on Monday Washington and Manila will need to discuss what the US may do with its access to the EDCA sites.

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EDCA allows US access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but not a permanent presence.

The United States expects to boost its allocated spending for EDCA sites to over $100 million by the end of 2023, against a previously announced $80 million, according to the joint statement.

The two sides also agreed to fast track new bilateral defense guidelines.

Southeast Asia expert Greg Poling at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said such guidelines were aimed at providing strategic direction and to lay out each side's responsibilities.

The Washington meeting came after more than 17,000 Philippine and US soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills on Tuesday.

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US-Philippines relations have warmed considerably under Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and the 2+2 meeting underlined that as the first of its kind in seven years.

Marcos assured on Monday that military bases accessible to the US would not be used in offensive action, stressing that the arrangement with Washington was designed to boost his country's defenses.