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US, Philippines expand bilateral defence agreement

The US and the Philippines on February 2 announced their agreement to give US forces access to four additional bases in the Southeast Asian country.
Hanoi (VNA) – The US and the Philippines on February 2 announced their agreement to give USforces access to four additional bases in the Southeast Asian country.

In a joint statement,US and Philippine defence officials clearly stated that the two sides have agreed toexpand their current bilateral defence agreement to four more bases in strategicareas of the Philippines.

Under the agreement,Washington will be granted access to the four bases followingthe Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which became effective in 2014,allowing the US to rotate troops and to build and deploy facilities atPhilippine bases.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of National Defence said that the US hasspent more than 82 million USD on infrastructure projects at five underwayfacilities in the Philippines.

The statement wasreleased during US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’svisit to the Philippines./.
VNA
#US #Philippines #Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) #US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin #Vietnam #Vietnam news #Vietnam News Agency
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