MDT to be tackled in Marcos-Biden meeting

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will bring up the Philippines’ defense deals with the US during his meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden in Washington next week.

Marcos will undertake an official working visit to the US from April 30 to May 4, a trip that officials said would reaffirm the “special relationship” between Manila and Washington.

He is scheduled to meet with Biden on May 1 and is expected to push for closer partnership in agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation and technology, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supply chains and infrastructure.

“Of course we will clarify again the treaty agreement between the Philippines and America and we have to look at it because of several changes. Climate change is also an important thing and we will seek help on the strategies that we can do,” Marcos told state-run Radyo Pilipinas yesterday.

Marcos said the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) – a pact signed by the two countries in 1951 – has to evolve because of recent developments in the region.

“We have to evolve it. It has to evolve... We need to adjust it because of the changes in the situation we are facing in the South China Sea, the developments in Taiwan and North Korea, our situation is heating up somehow,” the President said.

The MDT aims to strengthen the capabilities of the Philippines and the US. It allows them to jointly develop their capabilities to counter external armed attacks.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which permits Filipino and American troops to hold joint military drills in the Philippines, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which provides the US access to agreed Philippine locations, are offshoots of the MDT.

Earlier this month, the Philippines and the US announced a plan to expand the sites open to US troops under EDCA to strengthen the interoperability of their militaries.

The four new sites are Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan.

Areas that are already in the agreement are the Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, Lumbia Air Base, Antonio Bautista Air Base and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.

Marcos said the Philippines is concerned about the disputes in the region, citing the need to work together to prevent tensions from building up.

“(We will discuss our) partnership, what we can do to tone down the rhetoric,” the Chief Executive said.

“The discussions have become serious and provocative statements have been issued and of course, we are concerned about that,” he added in Filipino.

While defense cooperation is one of the key issues to be tackled during his visit to the US, Marcos reiterated that Manila’s relationship with Washington covers a wide range of subjects, including the economy, tourism and health care.

He said the Philippines would also seek the US’s help in mitigating the impact of climate change, a phenomenon that he previously described as “the most pressing existential challenge of our time.”

According to Marcos, the US provides funds to support climate change-related measures, including relocating settlements to ensure that people are safe from typhoons.

The Philippines is also expected to seek US assistance on measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will seek a lot of help because all of us are recovering from the pandemic. Just like in my previous trips, we will see what partnership can be formed, what technologies can be brought to the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Also to be discussed during Marcos’ visit is the plight of Filipino workers who, according to the President, are in demand abroad.

“That’s one of the things to be tackled because there are problems in immigration, training, all of those things, to give opportunities to those who want to work abroad, to look for a good position,” he said.

A business delegation will accompany Marcos during the trip, his second visit to the US as president. He first visited the US in September last year to participate in the 77th United Nations General Assembly.