Phl, UK to expand defense agreement

The Philippines-United Kingdom defense agreement is being updated to expand the scope of cooperation between the two countries as they hope to sign a revised defense pact before October, British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said yesterday.

The current defense agreement, which the ambassador said was lacking in ambition, would have to be updated to make it more responsive to recent developments.

“It’s actually being redone now. We have an existing one but we want by the end of this calendar year to establish a new one,” Ahmad told reporters in an interview at his residence in Makati City.

“We don’t have a timetable for it but I think well before October. We’re just exchanging drafts,” he said.

He explained that the agreement would be treated more like an “umbrella under which we can do many, many things” but would be “not as complicated” as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the US.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think it translates into something more than that,” Ahmad said.

He did not rule out the possibility of elevating the partnership to a more strategic one that would involve joint training between UK and Philippine troops.

“I don’t rule that out but right now, it’ll be wrong for me to say that’s next on the horizon,” Ahmad said.

“I wouldn’t describe them as British troops coming here because that sounds a bit emotive. It’s British expertise coming here,” he added.

He said the UK also wanted to expand the “scope a little bit” to cover some of the lessons learned from disasters like Super Typhoon Yolanda.

South China Sea issue

The ambassador said the developments in the South China Sea and terrorism were also considered in updating the defense agreement.

He also said freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea are “non-negotiable” and considered “red lines” for the UK.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who was in Manila for an official visit last Jan. 7, said Britain has been urging all parties in the dispute not to take actions that could increase tensions.

“We maintain the position that we as an international maritime and trading nation enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. We expect to continue to exercise those rights,” Hammond said.

Meanwhile in Zamboanga City, critics of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US have nothing to worry about the possibility of the US re-establishing permanent bases in the country, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri said.

“So, whatever are the apprehensions and worries, I think the Supreme Court has already given the answer. So there is nothing to worry about, everything is constitutional and that is the underlying principle when this agreement was crafted – that it will not violate the Constitution,” Iriberri said.