FOR the first time, foreign affairs and defense officials of the Philippines and the United States will hold a strategic dialogue that will cover a whole range of bilateral, regional and international issues including dispute in the South China Sea.
To be hosted by the Philippines, the PHL-U.S. Strategic Dialogue will be held on Jan. 27-28 at the Sofitel Hotel.
Historically, foreign affairs and defense officials had met separately with their counterparts.
Kurt Campbell, State Department assistant secretary, and Derek Mitchell, deputy assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, lead the U.S. delegation that includes Joseph Yun, director for Maritime Southeast Asia of the State Department.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio; Pio Lorenzo Batino, defense undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Strategic Concerns; and Raymund Jose Quilop, defense assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessment, compose the Philippine delegation.
The U.S. is keen on looking at how best it can help the Philippine Navy in terms of capacity building and technical assistance. Details of the cooperation on maritime security will also be discussed.
The U.S. called for this bilateral strategic discussion in a meeting at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders Summit held in New York last September. U.S. and ASEAN leaders there agreed that “further consultations between relevant U.S. cabinet secretaries and their ASEAN counterparts should be explored and encouraged to develop areas of mutual cooperation.”
The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia with a Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States signed in 1951.
Campbell’s Manila trip is part of his Hawaii, Philippines and Singapore swing. He will also hold meetings with government officials and the business community.
He will proceed to Singapore on Jan. 28 to meet with Foreign Minister George Yeo, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and other senior government officials.