From Business World (Apr 13): Better defense ties seen with Obama visit
THE VISIT of United States President Barack H. Obama to the Philippines this month will further strengthen the ties of the two nations particularly in defense and security, a palace official said yesterday.
“The forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama is an opportune time for the Philippines to further strengthen its ties with its ally, the United States,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said in press briefing yesterday.
Mr. Coloma noted that the US is a valuable partner of the Philippines in the field of defense and security as well as economy and business.
“We know that the United States is one of the country’s foremost and strategic partner in the field of defense and security; the US is also our partner in different other fields -- economy, trade, and business,” he added.
He said both Filipinos and Americans see that the visit will further boost friendship between the two countries.
Last Friday, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. confirmed that US President Barack Obama will be in the Philippines on April 28 and 29, in a visit aimed at further strengthening ties with its longtime ally.
News reports quoted Mr. Cuisia as saying that defense and security cooperation, trade and people-to-people exchange are high on the agenda of talks between Mr. Obama and Philippine President Benigno S. C. Aquino III.
“It will be a working visit. The important thing [during this visit] is to reaffirm the strong military alliance, the strong economic relations and people-to-people exchange that they’ve had with the Philippines,” Mr. Cuisia told reporters on the sidelines of a dialogue hosted by the Makati Business Club and Management Association of the Philippines.
The US President will be on a week-long Asian trip that includes visits to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines later this month.
His visit to the region is expected to reassure Asian allies at odds with China -- like Japan and the Philippines -- of American support amid long unresolved territorial conflicts and disputes.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles C. Jose has earlier said the negotiations with the US on the expanded US military presence in the Philippines “are proceeding on a parallel track with other efforts by Manila to mount a minimum credible defense posture against all possible aggressors.”
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation between the US and the Philippines proposes, among others, allowing more US troops, aircraft and ships to pass through the Philippines, as well as storing equipment in the country that could help mobilize American forces faster -- particularly in the case of natural disasters.
The accord would provide “critical and timely support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [and the] achievement of the country’s minimum credible defense posture.”
Mr. Coloma has said Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Aquino to “discuss ways to further strengthen the enduring Philippines-US alliance, including the expansion of security, economic and people-to-people ties.”
“President Obama’s visit will provide a new momentum to Philippines-US relations and strengthen the partnership of the two nations in many areas,” Mr. Coloma said.
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Better-defense-ties-seen-with-Obama-visit&id=86066
THE VISIT of United States President Barack H. Obama to the Philippines this month will further strengthen the ties of the two nations particularly in defense and security, a palace official said yesterday.
“The forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama is an opportune time for the Philippines to further strengthen its ties with its ally, the United States,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said in press briefing yesterday.
Mr. Coloma noted that the US is a valuable partner of the Philippines in the field of defense and security as well as economy and business.
“We know that the United States is one of the country’s foremost and strategic partner in the field of defense and security; the US is also our partner in different other fields -- economy, trade, and business,” he added.
He said both Filipinos and Americans see that the visit will further boost friendship between the two countries.
Last Friday, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. confirmed that US President Barack Obama will be in the Philippines on April 28 and 29, in a visit aimed at further strengthening ties with its longtime ally.
News reports quoted Mr. Cuisia as saying that defense and security cooperation, trade and people-to-people exchange are high on the agenda of talks between Mr. Obama and Philippine President Benigno S. C. Aquino III.
“It will be a working visit. The important thing [during this visit] is to reaffirm the strong military alliance, the strong economic relations and people-to-people exchange that they’ve had with the Philippines,” Mr. Cuisia told reporters on the sidelines of a dialogue hosted by the Makati Business Club and Management Association of the Philippines.
The US President will be on a week-long Asian trip that includes visits to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines later this month.
His visit to the region is expected to reassure Asian allies at odds with China -- like Japan and the Philippines -- of American support amid long unresolved territorial conflicts and disputes.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles C. Jose has earlier said the negotiations with the US on the expanded US military presence in the Philippines “are proceeding on a parallel track with other efforts by Manila to mount a minimum credible defense posture against all possible aggressors.”
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation between the US and the Philippines proposes, among others, allowing more US troops, aircraft and ships to pass through the Philippines, as well as storing equipment in the country that could help mobilize American forces faster -- particularly in the case of natural disasters.
The accord would provide “critical and timely support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [and the] achievement of the country’s minimum credible defense posture.”
Mr. Coloma has said Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Aquino to “discuss ways to further strengthen the enduring Philippines-US alliance, including the expansion of security, economic and people-to-people ties.”
“President Obama’s visit will provide a new momentum to Philippines-US relations and strengthen the partnership of the two nations in many areas,” Mr. Coloma said.
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Better-defense-ties-seen-with-Obama-visit&id=86066