US Will Station Military Forces in Philippines Amid Growing China Tensions: 10-Year Defense Deal Brokered Before Obama's Manila Visit
A new deal struck between the U.S. and Philippine governments will allow American military forces to station troops, warships and aircrafts at selected Philippine military facilities.
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement marks the return of a large-scale U.S. military force to the Philippines since being ousted after the Cold War, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Philippine Senate ended the U.S.'s long-standing defense deal in 1991 that lead to the closing of Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base, two of the nation's largest overseas compounds.
White House officials said the 10-year defense deal does not require specific approval from the Philippine Senate for it to take effect, according to the Times.
President Barack Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor, Ben Rhodes, boasted that relations between the U.S. and the island nation have improved in the last two decades as the two work together to solve growing tensions with China.
"It shows how far we've come in building out a very mature partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect," Rhodes said.
It is unclear how much military presence will be sent to the former American colony, but Evan Medeiros, senior director for Asian affairs at the White House's National Security Council, told Fox News that those issues were worked out with Filipino government officials.
The agreement comes as a response to China's aggressive actions in disputed territories, Manila-based political analyst Ramon Casiple said.
"The Philippines' immediate and urgent motivation is to strengthen itself and look for a security shield with its pitiful military," Casiple said. "The U.S. is looking for a re-entry to Asia, where its superpower status has been put in doubt."
The new defense deal was brokered in the days leading up to the president's scheduled arrival at the Philippine capital of Manila on Monday.
During his week-long trip to Asia, President Obama has had conversations with several Asian leaders in closed-door meetings regarding the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, according to the Times.
In the last six days he has attended state dinners and gone to cultural spots, and is expected to return to Washington on Tuesday with a news regarding the trade agreement.