Admiral John C. Aquilino, commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM, right), paid a courtesy call on Locsin. The former welcomed the progress on the Visiting Forces Agreement as “a huge leap forward that puts stake on the ground for continued cooperation.”
He assured the secretary that the US sees both their countries as sovereign and equal defense partners in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region, then reiterated the US’s commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty. Aquilino also expressed the INDOPACOM’s readiness to support vaccine delivery to the Philippines.
DFA-OPCD/ VANESSA UBAC