U.S. Will Reportedly Increase Military Funding to the Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (C) welcoming U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (R). Image: Basilio Sepe, Pool / AFP.

This week’s joint visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Manila will reportedly see the announcement of $500 million in additional military funding to the Philippines to bolster its defenses, and a possible new military pact between the countries.

Despite the recent ratcheting down of tensions between China and the Philippines, which included a calm resupply mission to the stranded warship that serves as a Philippine outpost in the South China Sea, the enhanced cooperation is squarely aimed at Beijing.

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by Cobus van Staden

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