Phil Ambassador: MDT with US remains unchanged under any US president

Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez stated on Monday that the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States will remain unchanged regardless of who wins the 2024 US presidential election.

Romualdez affirmed this stance during a Super Radyo dzBB interview, emphasizing that both Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump would maintain existing defense agreements.

The ambassador noted that key defense pacts such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed in 1998 and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014 have remained consistent throughout leadership changes, aligning with US interests to keep the Indo-Pacific region free.

Romualdez highlighted that Harris's visit to Palawan in 2022 underscored respect for international rulings on territorial disputes, particularly regarding the South China Sea, while also noting potential economic policy shifts if Trump wins another term.

The ambassador assured that defense relations would remain robust under both candidates, citing the 'ironclad commitment' coined during Trump's previous administration and emphasizing the mutual benefit of a free Indo-Pacific region for trade and territorial sovereignty.