Daza

PH, Indonesia to renew 1997 defense pact in PBMM state visit

September 2, 2022 Cristina Lee-Pisco 300 views

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said a number of business agreements will be signed between the Philippines and Indonesia as well as Singapore during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit next week.

“These will actually be tailored to the priority areas of this administration. So it could include infrastructure, renewable energy, food and security, fertilizer importation, among others,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

Indonesia and the Philippines will also renew a 1997 defense and security agreement.

“The active defense and military engagement between our two countries – the Philippines and Indonesia – is really anchored on a 1997 cooperative agreement in the field of defense and security or what is called the DSCA. The agreement has expired and now we’re renewing this agreement,” Daza said in a press conference.

It will serve as the mother framework for all defense and security cooperation between the two countries. It expired in 2020.

Daza added the deal wound involve joint and combined training activities, cooperation on border security, exchange of visits, education, information sharing, and development of interoperability, among others.

The Department of National Defense and Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense will sign the agreement, which will be witnessed by Marcos and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The Philippine-Indonesia Plan of Action for 2022 to 2027 and a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation will be signed.

“The MOU on cultural cooperation hopes to promote people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding through cultural activities, as well as promotion of cultural-related industries,” Daza said.

Marcos’ inaugural state visit is seen to solidify the Philippines’ already close political and diplomatic ties with Indonesia.

As fellow archipelagic states, Daza said the two nations share an extensive porous border and are close partners in maritime cooperation.

The two had, in fact, concluded a landmark agreement on an exclusive economic zone, boundary delimitation in 2014 and are currently negotiating the delimitation of other continental shelf boundaries.

In addition, Indonesia is the largest economy and country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and has the largest population and market offering great potential for further economic engagement.

AUTHOR PROFILE