Mutual Defense Treaty (United States–Philippines)

Last updated

Mutual Defense Treaty
Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America
Mutual Defense Treaty US-PHI 1951.png
Map of the Members of the treaty
Type Military alliance
SignedAugust 30, 1951 (1951-08-30)
Location Washington D.C., United States
Parties
Language English

The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America (MDT) was signed on August 30, 1951 by their representatives in Washington, D.C. The treaty has eight articles and requires both nations to support each other if another party attacks the Philippines or the United States.

Contents

History

The Philippines became a US territory after the Spanish–American War and the subsequent Philippine–American War. In 1935, under the terms of the Tydings–McDuffie Act, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth, the Philippine Commonwealth, with full independence planned for ten years later. Delayed by World War II and the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines, the Philippines became a fully independent sovereign state on July 4, 1946. [1] Following independence, a strong US military presence remained, including a number of US military bases that were agreed in treaties between the countries. Some treaties created a strong bond between them that gave both countries rights not enjoyed by other nations. The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America was signed on August 30, 1951, in Washington, D.C. between representatives of the Philippines and the United States. [2]

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered a review of the MDT on December 28, 2018, to "maintain it, strengthen it, or scrap it". [3] On February 11, 2020, the Philippines notified the US that it would withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement, leading to speculation that the move could impact the MDT. [4] It reversed its decision in June 2020.

In 2021, after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest over a new Chinese law that may endanger Filipino fishers, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to the MDT. [5] In a 2022 meeting, US Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly assured Philippine president Bongbong Marcos that "an armed attack on the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US Mutual Defense commitments." [6]

In September 2024, the United States Secretary of defense Lloyd Austin III reaffirmed its "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines after China's latest effort to assert its naval presence in the South China Sea. [7]

In October 2024, The Philippine Navy and the United States Navy conducted joint anti-submarine and night patrol exercises as part of their Sama-Sama ("together" in Filipino) military drills. The exercises are designed to enhance the interoperability of the two navies and improve their readiness in maritime security operations. Japan, Australia, Canada, and France will join the exercises. [8]

These naval maneuvers come amid heightened tensions due to the increasing presence of Chinese vessels, including warships, in the West Philippine Sea, part of the contested South China Sea. The drills are seen as a strategic response to rising security concerns in the region. [9]

Specifics

The overall accord contains eight articles and dictates that both nations would support each other if either the Philippines or the United States were to be attacked by an external party.

As stated in Article I of the treaty, each party is to settle international disputes in a peaceful manner so that international peace is not threatened, and to refrain from the threat of the use of force in any manner that is inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations. Article II states that each party either separately or jointly through mutual aid may acquire, develop and maintain their capacity to resist armed attack. Article III states that from time to time the parties will consult one another through the use of their secretaries of state, foreign ministers or consuls in order to determine the appropriate measures of implementation. The parties will also consult one another when either party determines that their territorial integrity, political independence or national security is threatened by armed attack in the Pacific. Article IV states that an attack on either party will be acted upon in accordance with their constitutional processes and that any armed attack on either party will be brought to the attention of the United Nations for immediate action. Once the United Nations has issued such orders, all hostile actions between the signatories of this treaty and opposing parties will be terminated.

Article V defines the meaning of attack and its purpose which includes all attacks by a hostile power will be held as an attack on a metropolitan area by both parties or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific. Article VI states that this treaty does not affect, impede, or shall not be interpreted as affecting the rights and obligations of the parties under the Charter of the United Nations. Article VII states that the treaty shall be ratified in accordance with the constitutional processes set delineated by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Philippines. Lastly, Article VIII stipulates that the treaty terms are indefinite until one or both parties wish to terminate the agreement. If the agreement is to be terminated, either party must give one-year advance notice. [2]

Support

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton featured with Philippine President Benigno Aquino (left) taken while Secretary Clinton was speaking during her two-day visit to the Philippines as a part of President Obama's Partnership for Growth agreement which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the two nations Mutual Defense Treaty, November 17, 2011. President Benigno Aquino III with U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.jpg
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton featured with Philippine President Benigno Aquino (left) taken while Secretary Clinton was speaking during her two-day visit to the Philippines as a part of President Obama's Partnership for Growth agreement which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the two nations Mutual Defense Treaty, November 17, 2011.
General Alexander B. Yano, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shakes hands with Lieutenant Junior-Grade Eduardo Vargas on the USS Ronald Reagan. US Navy 080629-N-7730P-009 Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff, Gen. Alexander B. Yano shares a handshake with Lt.j.g. Eduardo Vargas. Gen. Yano flew aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).jpg
General Alexander B. Yano, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shakes hands with Lieutenant Junior-Grade Eduardo Vargas on the USS Ronald Reagan.

After the Soviet Union dissolved and communism declined in the 1990s, bilateral support for the treaty has varied, especially in the Philippines. Generally, the Philippine government has remained supportive of the treaty since its inception, often coming to rely on the US for its defenses as it has done since World War II. This was made apparent during the Cold War by the numerous active US military bases in the Philippines. The most controversial of these bases is Clark Air Base outside of metro Angeles City, and the US Naval Base Subic Bay. The bases were garrisoned for nearly 40 years after the end of World War II until the early 1990s. In 1991, anti-US sentiment in the Philippines forced the Philippine Senate to reject a new base agreement treaty that subsequently forced all US forces to be removed from the Philippines. [10] However, with the rise of global terrorism with the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent economic rise and militant expansion of China, the US strengthened its ties to the Philippines and its other Asian allies. [11]

In its 60th anniversary year, in a ceremony held on November 11, 2011, on the deck of the US-guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald docked in Manila, the two governments reaffirmed the treaty with the Manila Declaration. The declaration was signed by Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Del Rosario and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The declaration was a formal affirmation of defensive ties between the two countries that date back over a century. [12] The declaration states, in part:

The Republic of the Philippines and the United States reaffirm our shared obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty. We expect to maintain a robust, balanced, and responsive security partnership including cooperating to enhance the defense, interdiction, and apprehension capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America today commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty. On this historic occasion, we reflect on the rich history of our alliance and the continuing relevance of the treaty for peace, security, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. We also reaffirm the treaty as the foundation of our relationship for the next 60 years and beyond. The United States and the Philippines are bound by a deep and abiding friendship forged by a history of shared sacrifice and common purpose. The many Filipinos who bravely served side-by-side with American servicemen and women during World War II and the veterans of our two nations buried at the Manila American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio bear testament to our profound and enduring bonds. These bonds are enriched by the presence in the US of over four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans, and in the Philippines by over 150,000 Americans, who help shape the political and economic future of both countries. [12]

In a follow-up to the signing of the Manila Declaration, the US and Philippine representatives met in 2011 to sign onto a new partnership strengthening the economic and defensive ties of the two countries. This new formal agreement was termed Partnership for Growth. [13] This agreement came as a part of President Obama's Global development initiative, which was designed to strengthen the Philippines business development and commercial ties between the two countries. [14] During the signing ceremony of this agreement, Secretary Clinton reaffirmed the US position on the mutual defense of the Philippines through the statement "The US will always be in the corner of the Philippines. We will always stand and fight with you to achieve the future we seek". [15] By 2017, this had evolved into Partnership for Growth with Equity, in line with the 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan. [16] [17]

Opposition

Evacuees board the USS Abraham Lincoln Evacuees from Mount Pinatubo board the USS Abraham Lincoln.jpg
Evacuees board the USS Abraham Lincoln

Opposition to the treaty has had its periods on both sides of the Pacific. The longevity of the US military presence in the Philippines caused opposition to the treaty to begin in the 1980s, with the escalating tensions surrounding US policy and its repercussions. [18] The late 1970s and the 1980s saw a rise in anti-American sentiment following the increasing allegations and perpetrations of US military personnel misconduct towards Filipino men and women. The nightclubs and social hotspots surrounding Clark Air Force Base and Naval Base Subic Bay became flashpoints of allegations of assaults by American service members on local Filipinos. [18] Political tensions steadily grew.

In 1991, the Military Bases Agreement of 1947 was expiring and the George H. W. Bush administration in the US and the Corazon Aquino administration in the Philippines were in talks to renew the agreement. A new treaty, the RP-US Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Security, was signed for the renewal of the Subic Bay lease. [19] [20] Anti-American sentiment continued to grow in the Philippines and was reflected in the election of a Philippine Senate majority against the treaty's renewal. On September 13, 1991, the Philippine Senate voted not to ratify the new treaty. [10] As a result, the last US military personnel in the Philippines were removed from the bases on November 24, 1992.

The U.S. flag is lowered by marines and a Philippine flag is raised during turnover of Naval Station Subic Bay US Flag lowered and Philippine flag raised during turnover of NS Subic Bay.jpg
The U.S. flag is lowered by marines and a Philippine flag is raised during turnover of Naval Station Subic Bay

The opposition movement within the Philippines subsided after the removal of US personnel from the Philippines in the early 1990s but never truly dissipated in its entirety. Anti-American sentiment remained a prevalent social issue within the collegiate community in Metro Manila, and relatively small demonstrations routinely took place outside the US embassy until the early 2000s. [21] As a result of the unfortunate events surrounding the 9/11 attacks, the US began restructuring and exercising its rights in the treaty as a part of its War on Terrorism, [21] which included the deployment of US forces to the Philippines in Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines to advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

On April 28, 2014, desiring to enhance cooperative capacities and efforts in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, both governments executed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). [22] It is designed to promote the following between the Philippines and the United States:

The agreement allows US forces access to and use of designated areas and facilities owned and controlled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the invitation of the Philippine Government. It contains a clear provision that the US will not establish a permanent military presence or base in the Philippines and a prohibition of entry to the Philippines of nuclear weapons. [23] The EDCA has an initial term of ten years, and thereafter will continue in force until terminated by either party after having given a one-year notice of intention to terminate. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of the Philippines</span> Military forces of the Philippines

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. The President of the Philippines is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP and forms military policy with the Department of National Defense, an executive department acting as the principal organ by which military policy is carried out, while the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines serves as the overall commander and the highest-ranking officer in the AFP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manuel Roxas</span> President of the Philippines from 1946 to 1948

Manuel Acuña Roxas was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the fifth president of the Philippines from 1946 until his death in 1948. He served briefly as the third and last President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from May 28, 1946, to July 4, 1946, and became the first President of the Independent Third Philippine Republic after the United States ceded its sovereignty over the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippine Navy (PN) is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an estimated strength of 24,500 active service personnel, including the 10,300-strong Philippine Marine Corps. It operates 90 combat vessels, 16 auxiliary vessels, 25 manned aircraft and 8 unmanned aerial vehicles. Tracing its roots from the Philippine Revolutionary Navy on May 20, 1898, while its modern foundations were created during the creation of the Offshore Patrol on February 9, 1939, the PN is currently responsible for naval warfare operations and maritime patrol missions within the Philippine Waters, as well as ensuring the protection of the Philippine's maritime interests, including the South China Sea and Benham Rise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formosa Resolution of 1955</span>

The Formosa Resolution of 1955 was a joint resolution passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 29, 1955, to counteract the threat of an invasion of Taiwan by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The resolution gave the U.S. president the authority "to employ the Armed Forces of the United States as he deems necessary for the specific purpose of securing and protecting Formosa and the Pescadores against armed attack [by the Communists]".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippines–United States Visiting Forces Agreement</span> Bilateral agreement between the Philippines and the United States

The Philippines–United States Visiting Forces Agreement, sometimes the PH–US Visiting Forces Agreement, is a bilateral visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and the United States consisting of two separate documents. The first of these documents is commonly referred to as "the VFA" or "VFA-1", and the second as "VFA-2" or "the Counterpart Agreement". A visiting forces agreement is a version of a status of forces agreement that only applies to troops temporarily in a country. The agreements came into force on May 27, 1999, upon ratification by the Senate of the Philippines. The United States government regards these documents to be executive agreements not requiring approval by the United States Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)</span> Executive department of the Philippine government

The Department of Foreign Affairs is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security, protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANZUS</span> 1951 collective security treaty between Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.

The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is a 1951 collective security agreement initially formed between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. It requires the parties to maintain their "capacity to resist armed attack", consult with each other on security matters in the Pacific and declares that an armed attack on any of the parties "would be dangerous to [each signatories] peace and safety" and that each signatory "would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes". It also provides for a council of the signatories foreign ministers, in which the implementation of the treaty can be discussed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Philippines (1898–1946)</span>

The history of the Philippines from 1898 to 1946 is known as the American colonial period, and began with the outbreak of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, when the Philippines was still a colony of the Spanish East Indies, and concluded when the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Philippines (1946–1965)</span>

This article covers the history of the Philippines from the recognition of independence in 1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal that covered much of the Third Republic of the Philippines, which ended on January 17, 1973, with the ratification of the 1973 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pactomania</span> 1940s–1950s US period of treaty-making

Pactomania is a term originally created to describe the period between 1945 and 1955, during which the United States concluded or ratified a significant amount of alliances, treaties, and pacts. The word "Pactomania" was first used in a The New York Times article in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China</span> 1954 treaty between the United States and the Republic of China

The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China, was a defense pact signed between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) effective from 1955 to 1980. It was intended to defend the island of Taiwan from invasion by the People's Republic of China. Some of its content was carried over to the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 after the failure of the Goldwater v. Carter lawsuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security Treaty between the United States and Japan</span> 1952 treaty establishing a constant US military presence in Japan

The Security Treaty between the United States and Japan was a treaty signed on 8 September 1951 in San Francisco, California by representatives of the United States and Japan, in conjunction with the Treaty of San Francisco that ended World War II in Asia. The treaty was imposed on Japan by the United States as a condition for ending the Occupation of Japan and restoring Japan's sovereignty as a nation. It had the effect of establishing a long-lasting military alliance between the United States and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treaty of Manila (1946)</span> Treaty establishing Philippines as an independent sovereign state

The Treaty of Manila of 1946, formally the Treaty of General Relations and Protocol, is a treaty of general relations signed on July 4, 1946, in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It relinquished U.S. sovereignty over the Philippines and recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. The treaty was signed by High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt as representative of the United States and President Manuel Roxas as representative of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippines–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Philippines–United States relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America. The relationship has been historically strong, described by some as a "special relationship" as a consequence of the Philippines' American colonial period between 1898 and 1946. Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, however, was supportive of a foreign policy less dependent on the United States, favoring one that prioritized closer relations with China and Russia, despite the Philippines and the U.S. having a mutual defense treaty dating from 1951 to the present. In 2014, the countries signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement that began its first phase of implementation in 2019.

The Central Intelligence Agency has been active in the Philippines almost since the agency's creation in the 1940s. The Philippines were frequently of great value to the CIA's operations in the second half of the 20th century. The United States has long had a clandestine intelligence apparatus in the Philippines. The Philippines have always been considered an important asset to the United States. There was a strong American influence until 1992.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is an agreement between the United States and the Philippines intended to bolster the American–Philippine alliance. The agreement allows the United States to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the United States to build and operate facilities on Philippine bases for both American and Philippine forces. The U.S. is not allowed to establish any permanent military bases. The Philippines have personnel access to American ships and planes. This agreement has been the subject of criticism by some leftist groups in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balikatan</span> Military exercise between the Philippines and the United States

Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States. The Tagalog word balikatan means "shoulder-to-shoulder". The exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippines–United States military relations since the closure of U.S. bases in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States bases in the Philippines</span> American military bases following World War II

United States military bases were established in the Philippines on the basis of a treaty signed after the conclusion of World War II and the recognition of Philippine independence by the US. The bases established under that treaty were discontinued in 1991 and 1992, after the Senate of the Philippines narrowly rejected a new treaty which would have allowed some of the bases to continue for another ten years. This article summarizes the collective history of those bases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2024 Second Thomas Shoal incident</span> China–Philippines incident near the Spratly Islands

On June 17, 2024, the China Coast Guard interfered with a resupply mission by the Philippine Navy near the Second Thomas Shoal, which is part of the internationally contested Spratly Islands.

References

  1. ↑ "Republic of the Philippines". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines". Avalon Project . Lillian Goldman Law Library. August 30, 1951. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Lorenzana orders review of 67-year-old US-PH military pact". Philippine News Agency . December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Philippines notifies U.S. of intent to end major security pact". The Globe and Mail Inc. Associated Press. February 11, 2020.
  5. ↑ "US reaffirms commitment to Mutual Defense Treaty with Philippines". Philippine Star. January 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Kamala Harris Says US Commitment to Philippines 'Unwavering'". The Diplomat. November 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ Mendoza, John Eric; dlejano (June 27, 2024). "US reaffirms 'ironclad' commitment to PH after West Philippine Sea incident". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ "U.S. and Philippines launch war games as Taiwan detects record number of Chinese military aircraft around island - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ "U.S. and Philippines launch war games as Taiwan detects record number of Chinese military aircraft around island - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Shenon, Philip (September 16, 1991). "Philippine Senate Votes to Reject U.S. Base Renewal". New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  11. ↑ "CRS Report for Congress:U.S. Strategic and Defense Relationships in the Asia-Pacific Region" (PDF). Congressional Research Services. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Signing of the Manila Declaration". Department of State. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Partnership for Growth with Equity | Philippines | US Agency for International Development". United States Agency for International Development. January 6, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ "IGD Policy Perspectives". Initiative For Global Development. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Clinton Vows Greater Support for Philippine Defense". Inquirer Global Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  16. ↑ "PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH WITH EQUITY". United States Agency for International Development. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022". National Economic and Development Authority, Government of the Philippines. February 21, 2022.
  18. 1 2 O'Connor, Brendon; Griffiths, Martin (2007). Anti-Americanism in the Philippines. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN   9781846450266 . Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  19. ↑ "US, PHILIPPINES SIGN 10-YEAR PACT ON USE OF SUBIC DOCKYARD". Reuters. August 27, 1991.
  20. ↑ "Security Relations and Institutionalism in Southeast Asia" (PDF). University of California at Berkeley. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  21. 1 2 "US Military Operations in the War on Terrorism" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Document: Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement". Official Gazette. Government of the Philippines. April 29, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Q&A on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement". Official Gazette. Government of the Philippines.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.