Philippines and U.S. seal intel-sharing pact
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By: Frances Mangosing - November 19, 2024
https://www.inquirer.net/421379/ph-us-seal-intel-sharing-pact-during-austin-visit/
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States signed a deal on Monday that allows the real-time sharing of highly classified intelligence and technology, further strengthening the long-running security alliance of the two countries.
Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with visiting US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III following a bilateral meeting at the Philippine military’s main headquarters, in Camp Aguinaldo
Secretary of Defense Austin is in Manila as part of his final trip to the Indo-Pacific region, which will include stops in Australia, Fiji, and Laos. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth as Austin’s successor.
“This agreement will serve as a framework to facilitate the exchange of classified military information between the Philippines and the United States,” Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said during the signing ceremony.
“Not only will this allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States, it will also open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations,” he pointed out.
Under the deal, GSOMIA does not expire but can be amended or suspended, if needed.
The GSOMIA establishes that both countries will protect and handle classified military information to an equivalent degree of protection as required by the releasing country.
The deal also does not compel either country to share information, but will facilitate faster information sharing when the need arises.
Defense Alliance
Manila and Washington have been negotiating to conclude a GSOMIA since late 2021 but deadlines to finalize the deal have been pushed back several times as the Philippines worked on meeting the required security measures.
Marcos, who took office in 2022, moved the Philippines closer to the United States after replacing Rodrigo Duterte, who pivoted the country’s foreign policy away from Washington and toward Beijing.
Manila has a Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington in effect since 1951 that calls for each side to come to the other’s defense in case of an armed attack.
The Philippines also has a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States that has been in place since the 1990s and an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that has been around since 2016.
The two countries also agreed to conclude a security-sector-assistance roadmap by the end of the year, Romualdez said.
This roadmap of Washington’s security assistance lays out the delivery of “priority defense platforms” for Manila over the next five to 10 years.
Joint operations center
After the GSOMIA signing, Teodoro and Austin also broke ground for a new combined coordination center in Camp Aguinaldo that will facilitate the joint operations between their armed forces.
“This center will enable real-time information sharing for a common operating picture, and it will help boost interoperability for many, many years to come."
"And it will be a place where our forces can work side by side to respond to regional challenges,” Austin said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, described the center as “a vital nexus for our joint operations, a gateway for information sharing and strategic coordination.”
“It will enhance our ability to collaborate during a crisis, fostering an environment where our strengths combine to safeguard peace and security in our region,” he said.
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