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Clarita Carlos eyes enhancing 1951 defense treaty with US


Incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos on Friday said the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines should be enhanced.

Interviewed on ANC, Carlos pointed out that the 1951 MDT is old and that the US has already come up with a new framework for its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

“There is no doubt that for as long as the 1951 MDT is enforced, then let us continue under that defense framework,” she said.

“And let us enhance that kasi how long ago is 1951? Mukhang maraming years na yan (looks like it has been so many years) especially since the US has declared a new framework, the Indo-Pacific framework,” she added.

Carlos said the review would also include the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, which are the legs of the MDT.

She said there was an “error in judgment” in connection with the VFA review that was started by the outgoing administration, and pointed out that it is the MDT that needs to be reviewed and not its implementing arms.

Asked if the next administration will push for joint maritime patrols with the US, Carlos said they will include more countries.

“We're trying to convince them (US) the best way really to have international order is for us to be inclusive,” she pointed out.

“I am sure yung China, gusto nilang mag-apply sa [Pacific Rim trade pact] kasi kasama naman siya dati bakit mo siya ini-exclude ngayon?” she added.

(I am sure China wants to join the Pacific Rim trade pact because it is included in the past. Why did the US exclude it now?)

Carlos also called out the US for supposedly creating “divisions” citing the situation of Korea, Palestine, Cyprus, among others.

“While we are also talking about the US and China, let us also involve the two actors up there -- South Korea and Japan,” she said.

“Our security architecture will involve all the actors kasi inclusive tayo e. Huwag kayong mag-etsapwera ng kung maski sino, including Russia,” she added.

(Our security architecture will involve all the actors because we stand on the principle of inclusion. Don’t ostracize anyone, including Russia.) —LBG, GMA News

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