Philippines, US mark 75th anniversary of MDT, reaffirm alliance
The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their 75-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty during a meeting between top military officials. The two nations agreed on a new joint defense memo to enhance maritime security and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why it matters
Strengthening this alliance is critical for regional stability and counterbalancing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea.
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and the United States marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, with Manila and Washington reaffirming their firm commitment to the alliance.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and US Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo met on Friday at Camp Aguinaldo where they signed an "8-Star memo" or a joint defense agreement, approving guidance and a list of activities for continued bilateral collaboration. The two co-chair the annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB).
The joint activities approved by the board for the upcoming year range from large-scale exercises to subject matter expert exchanges.
These engagements are designed to sustain interaction between the two militaries and enhance operational readiness across a range of missions, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
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