UBOARD USS RONALD REAGAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) – The United States has provided $100 million in foreign military funding to the Philippines, its ambassador in Manila said on Friday, part of efforts to boost Southeast Asia’s defense capabilities and military modernization strengthen.
The new military funding underscores improved defense ties between the treaty allies under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, shifted his country’s foreign policy away from the United States to pursue warmer ties with China.
“The United States has now provided $100 million in foreign military funding in part for the Philippine military to use as they wish,” Ambassador MaryKay Carlson told a media briefing aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which is on a scheduled port call in Manila was.
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Carlson added that the Philippines could use the allocation to “compensate” for its decision to scrap a P12.7 billion ($227.35 million) deal with Russia. See the article : The US needs a better strategy to stop Iran. Manila is looking to buy heavy lift Chinook helicopters from the US.
The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of US military aid in the Indo-Pacific region, having received $1.14 billion in aircraft, armored vehicles, small arms and other military equipment and training from 2015 to 2022. of foreign military funding to the Philippines, among the largest in Southeast Asia.
President Marcos, who met his US counterpart Joe Biden last month, said in a speech read by a State Department official at Friday’s briefing that he welcomed the visit of the USS Ronald Reagan, and reiterated his commitment would be to maintain peace and stability in South China. Sea.
The port call, the first in three years, by the nuclear-powered warship leading a carrier strike group, followed its participation in joint maritime exercises between the United States and South Korea.
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Report by Karen Lema; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor
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