US official: PH-US alliance 'not one-sided,' lauds PH military modernization

A US Department of War official has cited the Philippines' efforts in modernizing its military and coast guard, saying the US's alliance with the country was not "one-sided."

US War Department Undersecretary Elbridge Colby in a Stratbase Institute event said the Philippines is taking steps to be able to defend itself.

"Here in the Philippines, our alliance is undergoing a historic modernization, rooted in profound mutual respect," Colby said.

"We are co-investing in resilient infrastructure, training on cutting-edge capabilities, and operationalizing our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites," he added.

"This is not a one-sided partnership — the Philippines is stepping up, taking the lead to defend itself, and investing more to modernize its military and coast guard," Colby said.

Colby said the US is "backing up those investments with concrete, visible support, including the rotational deployment of four Fast Response Cutters to actively partner with the Philippine Coast Guard in patrolling and securing its Exclusive Economic Zone."

"By strengthening our joint posture, we are ensuring that both our nations possess the hard capabilities required to deter aggression," Colby said.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in March urged Asian allies to ramp up military spending to counter China's growing power and prevent its dominance in the region, warning of "rightful alarm" over its rapid military buildup.

Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier forum for defense leaders, militaries and diplomats, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power.

“By strengthening our joint posture, we are ensuring that both our nations possess the hard capabilities required to deter aggression,” Colby said.

The US is also deploying four US Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters to partner with the Philippine Coast Guard while the latter patrols Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Colby downplayed reports that the US was isolationist with its foreign policies. He also dismissed the notion that the US was becoming unreliable to work with.

“It is not isolation, but rather a business-like recalibration, a model of collaborative self-interest — enlightened self-interest, yes, but very much practical and pragmatic rather than ideological or rigid,” Colby said,

Colby said that the US now drew a harder bargain, but assured that it was only to put Americans first.

“No longer can countries simply assume America will go along with unbalanced relationships that are not clearly in Americans' practical interests. We are proud to implement that in the defense arena, where this has very clear and direct implications in terms of pressing allies to spend more on defense, for instance,” Colby said.

While Colby did not specify what this harder bargain was, the global market went through radical shifts after the US slapped tariffs on different countries, including allies such as the Philippines. —NB, GMA News