Dateline Kamuning:   Defense Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a ‘productive’ and ‘meaningful’ meeting during the latter’s official visit at the Department of National Defense on Thursday. “The visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III here in the Philippines signifies a strong bond and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States, particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance, economic development, and peace and security among others,” said Galvez. Accelerating implementation of EDCA The Defense Chiefs reiterated the commitment of the Philippines and the US to collaborate and accelerate the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). They announced the agreement to designate four (4) new Agreed Locations under EDCA in strategic areas of the country. According to Austin, the meeting included discussions on how Philippine and US forces can operate toget...

  Pormal na inilunsad ang Marine Aviation Support Activity o MASA 2022 na binubuo ng Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) at United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific (USMCFP). Nagimula ang military exercises noong June 6 at magtatagal hanggang June 17. Ayon kay Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Jorry Baclor, ang pagsasasanay militar ay isinagawa sa Palawan. Apat na C-17 aircraft ng US Air Force kasama ang US C-130 ang dumating sa bansa noong June 6 sakay ang mga amerikanong sundalong lumalahok sa MASA 2022. Ang pagsasanay ay tututok sa sensor operations, air surveillance, air defense, at High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) infiltration. Layunin ng MASA 2022 na mapa-angat pa ang combined at joint interoperability sa pagitan ng Sundalong Pilipino at US Marine Forces sa pagsasagawa ng combined tactical operations at heliborne operations. Kabilang din sa gagawin sa pagsasanay ang coastal defense forward arming and refueling, at pagu...