US-Philippine VFA military pact ‘in limbo’ until Duterte leaves office
- The termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows US soldiers to train in the Philippines, has been put off multiple times
- The status of the 23-year-old pact is in limbo due to Duterte’s antipathy towards the US, but there is pressure from the Philippine military and two key officials to keep the VFA
The status of the 23-year-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which was supposed to have been cancelled by the Philippines last year, is currently in stasis due to two opposing forces: Duterte’s antipathy towards the US, and pressure from the Philippines’ pro-US military and foreign secretary.
According to Renato de Castro, a professor of international studies at De La Salle University in Manila, Duterte was not likely to want his name linked to a revised agreement, which has been “sitting on his table”.
“If he signs it, it will be recorded in history that the renegotiated VFA happened during his term,” said de Castro. “He will probably pass it to the next president. He doesn’t want to be associated with a new agreement, especially a new agreement with the US.”
An enraged Duterte announced in February last year that he was terminating the VFA after the US cancelled the visa of his former subordinate, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is closely linked to the government’s violent war on drugs.
But several months later in June, Duterte backtracked and said he was “suspending” the termination for six months. He again put off the cancellation in November.
Last week, foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr announced the president was “extending” the suspension for yet another half a year, “while he studies, and both sides further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement”.