PH military says ties with US still ‘strong’ after Trump pauses aid to Ukraine

The Philippine military on Tuesday still expressed optimism about its ties with the United States even after US President Donald Trump halted its assistance to Ukraine.

“That is a policy matter between the United States and another country,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing.

“So far as the Philippines is concerned, our people-to-people relationship, our military-to-military, social-cultural exchanges, and broad other activities, a range of other activities between the US and the Philippines, are very strong and intact,” he added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Department of National Defense (DND) about possibilities on US’ military aid to the Philippines but it has yet to give a statement as of posting time.

Reuters reported that a White House official on Monday said that Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week.

"President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Trump administration has exempted the $336-million assistance for the modernization of Philippine security forces from its foreign aid freeze.

According to Romualdez, the amount is part of $500 million foreign military financing (FMF) that was approved by the US Congress last year under the Biden administration.

Washington’s assistance is crucial to Manila’s efforts to modernize its armed forces as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the WPS. — BAP, GMA Integrated News