US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Photo: Reuters File
The Philippines and the United States are set to sign a military intelligence-sharing agreement on Monday, according to Manila's defence ministry. This move signifies a further strengthening of security ties between the two defence treaty allies. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, will be signing the agreement. Known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the pact facilitates secure sharing of military information between the two countries. The security collaborations between the United States and the Philippines have intensified under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Both leaders are focused on countering what they perceive as China's assertive policies in the South China Sea and near Taiwan. The two nations share a mutual defence treaty that dates back to 1951, which can be activated if either party is attacked, including in the South China Sea. The Philippines remains confident that the alliance will continue to be robust under the incoming US President, Donald Trump.
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