US, PH discuss security, cooperation

ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr and US Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. John Aquilino discussed regional security issues during Brawner’s visit to the headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command at Camp H.M Smith in Honolulu in Hawaii on Friday (US time).

“The visit included exchanges on regional security and mutual partnership, further developing the strong democratic, economic and strategic partnership with the Philippines codified in the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” the US military said.

The Indo-Pacific Command reiterated its commitment to “enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

It said this will be done by “promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.”

The Indo-Pacific Command, on X (formerly twitter), said Aquilino and Brawner also discussed “the progress and modernization of the alliance in supporting free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Last September, Aquilino visited the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City for the annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board meeting.

Aquilino and Brawner discussed activities that the two militaries will pursue next year and projects being undertaken under the US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, among others.

Brawner is expected to join President Marcos Jr in his visit to the Indo-Pacific Command commander on Sunday (Hawaii time).