KAPWA tinintahan ng Pilipinas at United Kingdom (UK) ang memorandum of understanding (MOU) na bumabalangkas sa nilalayon na defense engagements ng dalawang bansa sa susunod na limang taon.

Inaasahan na makakasama bilang isa sa mga prayoridad ang maritime domain.

Ang MOU ay nilagdaan sa pagitan ng Department of National Defense (DND) at UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) noong Enero 11.

Si Philippine Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr. ang lumagda para sa panig ng Pilipinas habang si The Earl of Minto Timothy Minto, Minister of State for Defence, ang sa panig naman ng UK.

“The UK/Philippines MOU on Defence Cooperation is the cornerstone of our defence relationship,” ayon naman sa UK Embassy in Manila.

“It outlines the intent of our defence engagement for the next five years across a range of areas including military exercises, training and modernisation efforts. We can expect this engagement to focus on the maritime domain, Exclusive Economic Zone, hydrography and UK participation in future military exercises,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Sa hiwalay na kalatas, sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs na layon ng MOU na makapagbigay ng balangkas para palakasin ang bilateral cooperation sa defense at military education, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance at disaster relief, at research and technology.

Sa kabilang dako, sa Joint Statement of Intent na nilagdaan nina Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo at dating UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly noong Agosto 2023, nagkasundo ang dalawang bansa na mas i-develop pa ang bilateral defense engagement para pagtibayin ang rules-based international order.

Kapwa naman sinabi ng dalawang top diplomats na ipo-promote ng UK at Pilipinas ang “a free and open maritime order” base sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea bilang legal framework sa lahat ng aktibidad sa karagatan.

Nakasaad pa rin sa kalatas ang commitment ng dalawang bansa na “strengthen maritime law enforcement, marine environment protection, fisheries management and professional seafaring”.

Matapos lagdaan ang MOU, sinundan ito ng October 2023 visit ni dating UK Minister of State for Defense Baroness Goldie sa Pilipinas kung saan ipinahayag niya ang suporta ng UK sa Indo-Pacific at regional peace at security.

“The UK is proud of our relationship with the Philippines and defence forms a crucial part to this. We look forward to working closely to continue developing this engagement,” ayon sa UK Embassy. (Daris Jose)