4 Things To Know After The Philippines Kept Its Pact With The United States Military
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has derided the United States, and courted China, through much of his time in office, putting one of America's oldest alliances in Asia on the backfoot. But now, nearing the end of his single six-year term, the mercurial leader appears to be looking more favorably toward the Americans.
Last week, Duterte withdrew a year-and-a-half-old threat to cancel a key security pact with the U.S., the Visiting Forces Agreement. The 1998 VFA makes it easier for U.S. forces and ships to operate in the Philippines, including large combat exercises that have alarmed China.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday his government retracted its pending termination of the agreement and said "we are back on track." He was speaking in Manila with visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who said restoring the VFA was "a very welcome decision."
