Advanced jet fighters such as the F-16 will cost an arm and a leg, but if national security is at stake, why not?
In his second official visit to the United States, President Marcos Jr. has brought with him an economic agenda aimed at accelerating growth in the next five years and even beyond his term of office in 2028.
It’s an extensive one, encompassing a broad range of issues and concerns.
In his meeting with US President Joe Biden, Mr. Marcos discussed the idea of “greater economic engagement” between the two countries.
What he said in his pre-departure speech last April 30 revealed the outlines of such an engagement:
“I intend to speak and find opportunities in the semi-conductor industry, critical minerals, renewable and clean energy—including nuclear—and infrastructure projects that will improve our digital telecommunications systems and facilitate sustainable efforts to address climate change.”
The Chief Executive said he also hoped to explore US assistance in other areas, including food security, agriculture, and cybersecurity.
“I intend to convey to President Biden and his senior Cabinet officials that we are determined to forge an even stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address concerns of our times but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests.”
Our embassy in Washington, DC headed by Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez has arranged meetings between Marcos and American business leaders involved in healthcare, tourism, renewable energy and even nuclear energy.
Among the companies is NuScale, whose groundbreaking and proprietary technology in designing advanced nuclear small modular reactors has made it an industry leader.
The President has already indicated he is open to adopting nuclear power, along with greater reliance on renewable energy, amid the country’s energy crisis.
A possible US-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement is under negotiation.
This would provide the framework for nuclear cooperation between the two countries for training needed for small modular reactors and other clean energy solutions.
The Marcos visit underscores the growing warmth in relations between Manila and Washington.
In September last year, US Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Manila for a brief visit and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to defend the Philippines from external attack under the Mutual Defense Treaty amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Recently, our own Foreign Affairs and Defense Secretaries met with their counterparts in Washington DC on issues of mutual concern.
Defense cooperation
With the biggest Balikatan, the annual joint PH-US military exercises, now just a historical footnote, you would think the two sides would rest for a while and take their time planning the next round of joint military drills.
Turns out that after the 18-day Balikatan, there’s another one, called ‘Cope Thunder,’ that’s been revived after more than three decades in limbo. It actually started on Monday (May 1) and ends on May 12.
This is another large-scale military exercise with the participation of the air forces of the Philippines and United States aimed at enhancing the defense and readiness posture of the two treaty allies.
The exercise will be held at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. according to the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).
Cope Thunder Philippines seeks to provide bilateral fighter training with the Philippine Air Force and improve combined interoperability.
Approximately 160 USAF service members will fly, maintain and support more than 12 aircraft from the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base in Japan.
Filipino and American airmen will exchange tactics, techniques, and procedures while improving interoperability during the training period.
The drills are expected to feature the F-16 multi-role fighters of the US Air Force’s 35th Fighter Wing soaring in the skies with the FA-50 trainer jets of the Philippine Air Force for the exercise.
The exercise seeks to prepare the participants for a ‘real-world scenario’ in air combat.
Cope Thunder started in the Philippines in 1976 but the training stopped after the US military closed its bases in Clark and Subic Bay in 1991 due to damage from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in June that year.
That was also after the Philippine Senate voted not to extend the lease on US military facilities.
The air force drills are being held amid the PAF’s expected acquisition of a fleet of multirole fighters.
The PAF has been looking at American-made Lockheed Martin F-16 and Sweden’s Saab JAS-39 Gripen—its two preferred choices for fighter jets.
The high-level meeting between top diplomatic and defense officials in Washington in early April included talks on holding “focused discussions” for the sale of jet fighters, apart from the security sector assistance roadmap to support the delivery of priority defense platforms over the next five to 10 years.
Advanced jet fighters such as the F-16 will cost an arm and a leg, but if national security is at stake, why not?
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)