Arya News - US Embassy Chargés d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing said that several countries will join what he described as the largest "Balikatan" exercises in the country this year.
DAVAO CITY – Amid veiled threats of economic sanctions issued by China against the Philippines as tensions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) heightened, US Embassy Chargés d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing said here on Thursday that the United States still stands by the Philippines as a partner in prosperity and a long-time ally.
Ewing described the alliance between the US and the country as “iron-clad,” adding that several countries will join what he described as the largest Balikatan exercises in the country this year.
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“I am pleased to meet with President Marcos (Jr.) recently for the 80th anniversary celebration of the US-Philippine diplomatic ties and the 75th anniversary of the alliance,” referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty signed between the country and the US in August 1951.
“We stand by the Philippines as partners in prosperity, as friends, partners, and allies. This alliance is ironclad, and Balikatan, which allows us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder for interoperability exercises, is coming,” he added.
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“We are pleased to work side by side with Philippine partners and allies for interoperability exercises this year, the largest Balikatan is upcoming this year,” he added.
Ewing was at the Ateneo de Davao University to meet with beneficiaries of the US Embassy’s program to improve English proficiency among pupils in rural public schools.
He said the US Embassy’s Access program to improve the English proficiency of 50 selected pupils from the city’s far-flung public schools would be setting them up for future leadership roles in business, economics, and other fields.
On Wednesday, Ewing said he was pleased to meet a 90-year-old Filipino veteran in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, during the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor conferred by the US Congress, to 50 Filipino World War II veterans in the area.
The 90-year-old war veteran was one of only two still alive. The rest were honored posthumously for their bravery, service, and sacrifice on Wednesday, the first time that the awarding ceremony was held in Mindanao since 2019./coa
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