US Officials Announce $500-M Grant for AFP, PCG Modernization

02 Agustus 2024

EDCA current and new sites (image: ABS-CBN)

MANILA – Top American diplomatic and defense officials on Tuesday formally announced that Washington DC would allot assistance worth USD500 million (around PHP29.3 billion) to help in the ongoing modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III made the announcement during the 2 + 2 Ministerial Meeting with their Philippine counterparts, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"We're now allocating an additional USD500 million in foreign military financing (FMF) to the Philippines to boost security collaboration with our oldest treaty ally in the region," Blinken said.

The American top diplomat also described the grant, "new steps to strengthen the alliance, a once-in-a generation investment to help modernize" the AFP and PCG.

It is believes that the AFP and DND might prioritize on acquiring of brand new F-16 or used upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters (photo: USAF)

Meanwhile, Austin said the US is working with the Philippines to advance its shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"And together we are taking bold steps to strengthen our alliance. Today, as you heard Secretary Blinken and I announced that we are poised to deliver a once-in-generation investment to help modernize the AFP and the PCG," he added.

Austin added that they are now working with the US Congress for the grant of the FMF to Manila.

"This level of funding is unprecedented and it sends a clear message of support for the Philippines from the Biden administration, the US Congress and the American people. Today we also concluded the first ever bilateral Security Sector Assistance Roadmap. That roadmap will ensure that our mutual investments go toward the most important capabilities," he said.

Another priority is acquiring of brand new M142 HIMARS with long-range precision strike munitions (photo: USAF)

Austin also said the US Department of Defense intends to more than double its investment in Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) locations across the Philippines.

"President (Joe) Biden's budget request this year includes more than a USD 128 million dollar to fund important EDCA infrastructure projects and US government investment in these locations extends beyond the Department of Defense. For example, the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) plans to preposition a vast of relief supplies in EDCA locations later this year," he added.

This will allow the US Department of Defense to work alongside with the Philippines allies provide humanitarian assistance in times of need, Austin said, Currently, there are nine EDCA locations in various locations in the country.

"Now during our meeting, we also reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty remains the bedrock of our alliance. And let me be clear, the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our Armed Forces, aircraft or public vessels anywhere in (the) South China Sea. together we also discuss how to make our alliance even more secure through technology and security and cyber cooperation," Austin said.

See full article PNA