The US and the Philippines are pushing for a crucial military intelligence-sharing agreement amid an increasing row with China.
Senior Filipino and American defense officials met in Washington this week to discuss ways to fast-track the sealing of the agreement as tensions in the Indo-Pacific continue to rise.
According to a joint statement, a decision on the so-called General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is expected to be released later this year.
“They’re hoping to be able to finish that before the end of the year…” Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said. “I think they’re working overtime because it’s very important to our defense strategy.”
Negotiations for the GSOMIA began as early as 2021, but finalization of the pact has been pushed back several times.
Once implemented, the agreement will formalize intel-sharing between the two countries and create protocols for safeguarding top-secret military information.
Growing Ties
Long-standing allies, the US and the Philippines are said to have a common enemy in China.
They have improved diplomatic and military ties amid Beijing’s aggressive act in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
This week, the two nations began a large-scale military exercise known as “Balikatan,” with the French military joining for the first time.
To deepen their ties even further, Washington is eyeing the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act, which will grant Manila a total of $2.5 billion over five years to support its military modernization efforts.
