18-11-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine Defence Ministry has announced that a landmark military intelligence-sharing agreement will be signed today between the Philippines and the United States, marking another significant step in strengthening security cooperation between the long-standing allies.
The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) will be formalised during a ceremony attended by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. The pact establishes protocols for secure military information exchange between the two nations.
This latest development follows a pattern of intensified security engagement between Washington and Manila under the leadership of US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Both administrations have demonstrated shared concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
The agreement builds upon a robust defence relationship anchored by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which provides for reciprocal defence commitments should either nation face military aggression, including incidents within the South China Sea region.
Philippine officials have expressed confidence in the continuity of the alliance’s strength under the incoming Trump administration, suggesting the bilateral security partnership will remain a cornerstone of regional defence strategy regardless of political transitions in Washington.
