US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced a significant military aid package of $500 million for the Philippines as part of Washington's efforts to strengthen its alliance with Manila amid rising Chinese influence.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Manila, marking a key stop in their tour of the Asia-Pacific region aimed at reinforcing US alliances to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness.
Blinken highlighted that this additional funding is intended to enhance security cooperation with the Philippines, a long-standing ally under the Mutual Defense Treaty in the region.
He described the aid package as a "once-in-a-generation investment" designed to bolster the capabilities of the Philippine armed forces and coast guard.
During their visit to Manila, Blinken and Austin engaged in "2+2" talks with their Philippine counterparts, Enrique Manalo and Gilbert Teodoro.
The US officials also met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has sought to fortify the decades-old alliance with Washington, particularly in light of escalating hostilities between Philippine and Chinese forces in the disputed South China Sea.
President Marcos commended the "very open lines of communication" between the two nations concerning the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier this year, Beijing cautioned the US against using the Philippines as a pawn to stir tensions in the South China Sea, urging Manila not to allow itself to be manipulated by Washington.
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