25-4-2024 (WASHINGTON) In a collaborative announcement, both the Philippine and US governments recommitted to fostering cooperation across various domains, including expanding their partnership scope, modernizing alliance collaboration, advocating for a maritime order rooted in international law, promoting mutual prosperity, and bolstering multilateral ties.
Established in 2011, the BSD stands as the primary annual forum where the two nations delve into a spectrum of political, security, and economic cooperative ventures.
Echoing calls from previous dialogues, the two nations urged China to align its maritime assertions in the South China Sea with the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) while honouring the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
Scheduled for either September or October this year in Manila, the 3rd Maritime Dialogue is anticipated to build upon past dialogues and engagements between the US and the Philippines.
Pledging to intensify efforts in combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the two nations resolved to explore and develop frameworks for cooperative maritime law enforcement operations, in accordance with international and domestic laws.
On the security front, both the US and the Philippines affirmed their commitment to enhancing defence and security collaboration. This includes the finalization of the bilateral Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, the completion of additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and the allocation of USD$128 million by the US Department of Defense for infrastructure investments in the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Furthermore, USAID will preposition disaster relief supplies at key EDCA sites for the Philippine authorities.
The BSD took place from April 22 to 23, following closely after President Marcos’s participation in a historic trilateral summit with the US and Japan in Washington, D.C.
