Philippines welcomes Australian military support in fight against Islamic State sympathisers
Duterte has deployed thousands of troops and imposed martial law across the southern third of the country to deal with the crisis in Marawi
The Philippines has welcomed Australia’s offer to deploy troops to train Philippine soldiers, the defence ministers of the two allies said on Friday, as Islamic extremists continue to terrorise parts of the country.
The announcement came as the Philippine military called on Friday for more funds to root out pro-Islamic State group militants, more than three months into a deadly offensive devastating the southern city of Marawi.
Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne said Manila agreed to an offer from Canberra, made in August, for Australian troops to train local soldiers inside yet-to-be-named Filipino bases.
“We have increased our engagement, a surge if you like, in the context of the current events,” Payne said at a joint news conference with Lorenzana.
We have increased our engagement, a surge if you like, in the context of the current events
She said many areas of the Asia-Pacific were threatened by the return of “foreign fighters” who had gone to engage in combat in the Middle East.
“They [foreign fighters] are battle-hardened. They are well-trained, they are very determined,” she warned, adding that she had also discussed the threat with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.