Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte has restored the agreement governing the existence of US forces in the Philippines, said the defense ministers of the two countries on Friday, reversing decisions that have led to increasing concerns in Washington and Manila.
The troop visit agreement (VFA) provides regulations for the rotation of thousands of US forces entering and exits the Philippines for training and war training.
It has been assumed to be important as the United States and its allies compete with China which is increasingly assertive.
Duterte last year said he canceled VFA but had extended it until December.
Philippine Defelf Secretary Delfin Lorenzna said he was not sure why Duterte reversed himself but made a decision after meeting with US defense secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila on Thursday.
The Philippines is an allies of the US agreement, and some military agreements depend on VFA.
Duterte promised to end the pact after the United States denied a visa to the Philippine Senator which was the president’s allies.
But he has repeatedly pushed the expiration date, last month last month, defending it until the end of the year.
For the United States, it has the ability to spin in important forces not only for the Philippine defense, but strategically when it comes to fighting Chinese firm behavior in the region.
There is a long tension between the Philippines and China on disputed waters in the South China Sea.
The United States this month repeats the warning to China that the attack on the Philippines in the South China Sea will trigger the US-Philippine reciprocal defense agreement in 1951.
The United States has also sent millipine doses of Covid-19 vaccines to help fight pandemics.