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Philippines' Duterte says still undecided on future of U.S. troop deal

Published 02/24/2021, 11:28 PM
Updated 02/24/2021, 11:30 PM

MANILA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte said he has not made a decision yet on the future of the
two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United
States, leaving the fate of the pact hanging in the balance.
Duterte has said the United States should pay more if it
wants to maintain the VFA, which he unilaterally cancelled last
year in an angry response to an ally being denied a U.S. visa.
The withdrawal period has been twice extended, however, to
create what Philippine officials say is a window for better
terms to be agreed.
"I have not yet decided on what to do, to abrogate or
renew," Duterte said in a late-night televised address on
Wednesday. "I want to hear the people. I want narratives to
come."
The militaries of the two countries enjoy close ties, forged
during decades of joint exercises that have boosted the
capability of Philippine forces while giving the United States
an important foothold in a region where China's power and
influence is growing.
Defence officials from both countries are trying to salvage
the VFA, which underpins the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and an
Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Duterte has threatened
to scrap all of them. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stressed the
importance of the long-standing defense treaty between the
allies and its clear application if Manila came under attack in
the South China Sea. The U.S. Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment on Duterte's remarks.

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