Philippines, Netherlands commit to boost cooperation in defense sector

The Philippines and Netherlands have committed to strengthen the cooperation in the defense and water management sector, the Office of the Press Secretary said Wednesday.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium.

Rutte said Marcos is welcome to join in the two conferences on artificial intelligence and water management in The Netherlands next year.

He said The Netherlands is hosting a conference on the role of artificial intelligence in the military domain in February 2023.

The Dutch Prime Minister said this aims to gather foreign ministers, defense ministers, and heads of states.

Marcos, on the other hand, said cybersecurity is “crucial” for the country’s armed forces, particularly in protecting military networks against cyberattacks.

“The cybersecurity part of our military is growing everyday,” he said.

Another conference on water management and climate change adaptation will also be hosted in The Netherlands in March next year, according to Rutte.

“We are two counties who run a risk or two with rising sea levels and climate change,” Rutte said.

For his part, Marcos said the conferences would be “very useful” for the Philippines, which is most affected by “extreme climate events.”

“We are actually trying to decide whether or not to form a new agency just for water management. That seems to be right exactly within the area of concern of the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“I tell our locals, [the] local executives, every urban and large municipality in the Philippines has a water problem whether they know it or not,” he added.

He expressed support for the creation of a government body that will manage water resources, saying the problem in the country’s water supply needs the most urgent solution.

Bilateral meeting with Czech Republic PM

Marcos also sought assistance from Czech Republic in the transfer of technology in the defense sector during a bilateral meeting with Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala on the sidelines of the ASEAN-EU commemorative summit on Wednesday.

He said that technology transfer is part of his administration’s continued support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization program.

“It’s something that has been very helpful to the program of modernization that we are undergoing for defense forces in the Philippines especially now that we have… we are trying to strengthen the capabilities of our Coast Guard,” Marcos said.

“But what would be even more interesting is besides just the equipment, would be the transfer of technology from your country to mine so that you are able to produce [in our own country] some of the material that is now being provided by other countries and perhaps use… make the Philippines a center for all that, the logistics,” the President said.

He also expressed hope that the modernization of the AFP will drive it to enhance its defense capabilities consistently and perform its duties effectively.

The President is in Brussels after attending the Commemorative Summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union in Belgium.

He also met King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, European businessmen lauded Marcos for his commitment to the initiatives on regional economic integration despite having a cold in Brussels, according to the OPS.

Florian Gottein, executive director of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP), said European businessmen commended Marcos, who described the summit as a “much-needed dialogue” between the European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“European business leaders reacted very positively on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s speech during a C-Suite Luncheon with European Business Leaders before the 10th ASEAN-EU business summit in which he called for more European investments in the Philippines as well as he asked for more support from Europe on climate action issues,” Gottein said.

The ECCP is a bilateral foreign chamber that promotes European interests in the Philippines as well as Philippine interests in Europe, according to the OPS.— RSJ, GMA Integrated News