Exploratory talks to review U.S., Philippine defense treaty to start next week

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Exploratory talks to review the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the United States and the Philippines will kick off next week, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.

Lorenzana told reporters that a team from the United States will arrive in Manila next week to conduct initial talks with Philippine officials on the possible changes in the treaty.

"They have been asking me on our plans and their high-level delegation will be arriving here soon. It's not yet the formal talks but just maybe (seek an) audience to explore what other things we are thinking on our side," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said the Philippines specifically wants to know the sentiments of the Americans on the issue.

He added that the Philippines wants "to know what they (U.S. officials) are thinking on their side because the agreement is actually very short, it's a very short document."

Lorenzana said in December that he had directed lawyers in the Philippine Department of Defense to review the MDT with the United States to determine whether to "maintain it, strengthen it, or scrap it."

The United States and the Philippines signed the treaty in 1951, with the two countries committing to defending each other in the event of an armed attack.

The MDT is the Philippines' only defense treaty with another country and is considered a deterrent against foreign attacks. 


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