Manila: 31 July 2021 (TDI):
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to the Philippines on Friday resulted successfully in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte restoring the troop pact with the United States.
On February 11, 2020, President Duterte announced to the United States embassy in Manila that he will end the pact with termination to take effect in 180 days unless agreed otherwise during that time. The US, with its several military agreements, is dependent on the VFA. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is an agreement between the US and the Philippines to have military forces visiting the country. Also, it can rotate thousands of US troops, and provide war drills and exercises.
Austin thanked Duterte for retracting his decision to terminate the key defense pact and said this would further bolster the two nations’ 70-year treaty alliance.
