MANILA – The Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States is expected to continue regardless of who wins the US elections today (Tuesday night in the US).
According to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, the implementation of MDT will remain the same under the administration of either US Vice President Kamala Harris or former US President Donald Trump.
“Yes, definitely. ‘Yung defense establishment dito is very much aligned with the way they want our lives to continue,” Romualdez said in an interview with DZBB AM Radio.
He added: “‘Yung Visiting Forces Agreement nga has been there already for many, many years since 1993, 1994. At saka ‘yung ang ating EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement), that’s been also around since 2016. Tuloy-tuloy ‘yang agreement na ‘yan which we respect,” he added.
The MDT, which was signed by the two countries in 1951, is a defense pact that unites the two allies to help defend each other from aggression.
Romualdez said Filipinos could expect the same kind of relationship between the Philippines and the US under the administration of US President Joe Biden if Harris wins.
However, if Trump returns to White House, Romualdez said there may be changes in the economic front, but nothing will change in the defense ties between the US and the Philippines.
“Kung makabalik siya sa White House, iiba siguro ‘yung relasyon natin as far as on the economic front dahil iba ‘yung policy ni former President Trump. But as far as defense relations natin, pareho pa rin dahil sa administration ni Trump ‘yung word na ‘ironclad commitment’ was coined,” he explained.
Romualdez also said he talked to both the camps of Harris and Trump and they assured him the foreign policy will be the same./PN
