Philippines signals ending of historic security pact with US

THE Philippines notified the United States yesterday that it would end a major security pact allowing American forces to train in the country, in Rodrigo Duterte’s most serious threat to the countries’ 69-year treaty alliance.

Teodoro Locsin Jr, the foreign secretary, said that Manila’s notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement was received by the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Manila.

The termination would take effect after 180 days unless both sides agreed to keep it.

Mr Locsin signed the notice on the order of Mr Duterte, the president, who has criticised US security policies while praising those of China and Russia,

despite the Philippine military’s close ties with the US.

The US embassy acknowledged receipt of the notice and said Washington “will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests”.

“This is a serious step with significant implications for the Us-philippines alliance,” it said in a statement. “Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history.”

Mr Duterte threatened to terminate the agreement after Washington reportedly cancelled the US visa of Ronald dela Rosa, a Filipino senator. The politician was linked to human rights violations when he enforced the president’s deadly anti-drug crackdown as the national police chief in 2016.