THE Philippines and the United States on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defense as their security treaty marked its 75th anniversary. They pledged to strengthen cooperation amid growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Signed on Aug. 30, 1951, the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) commits the Philippines and the United States to help each other in the event of an armed attack. In a joint statement marking the milestone, the two countries said the MDT remains a cornerstone of their alliance and their efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
The allies said their defense partnership has evolved significantly since the treaty was signed, expanding to include maritime security, military interoperability, disaster response and other areas of cooperation.
The two countries also reaffirmed their support for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
They vowed to further strengthen the alliance and address both traditional and nontraditional security threats while promoting regional resilience and stability.
