Defense, bilateral ties pag-uusapan nina PBBM at Australian Deputy PM Marles

Defense, bilateral ties pag-uusapan nina PBBM at Australian Deputy PM Marles

February 22, 2023 @ 11:25 AM 1 month ago


NAKATAKDANG makipagpulong si Australian Deputy Prime Minister at Minister for Defence Richard Marles kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para talakayin ang bilateral ties ng dalawang bansa kabilang ang usapin ng defense o tanggulan.

Ang pagdating ni Marles sa Pilipinas ay bahagi ng kanyang official trip.

“Australia’s relationships across our region are founded on history, personal connections and shared interests,” ayon kay Marles sa isang kalatas.

“I look forward to the opportunity to deepen Australia’s engagement with the Philippines and Thailand, including through our important cooperation on defence and security,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Bukod kay Pangulong Marcos, makakapulong din ni Marles ang Officer-in-Charge ng Department of National Defense na si Carlito G. Galvez Jr. at iba pang senior government representatives para pag-usapan ang “already deep ties between the two countries, including our defence forces, ayon sa Australian Defence Ministry.

Ang byaheng ito ni Marles ay sa hangarin ng Australia na iangat ang relasyon sa Pilipinas sa isang “strategic partnership” na napagkasunduan nina Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Marcos sa margins ng 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting noong nakaraang Nobyembre.

Sinabi pa ng Ministry na “Australia is committed to working with the Philippines and Thailand in support of a “stable, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at its core.”

Noong nakaraang linggo, isa ang Australia sa mga unang bansa na bumalik ng Pilipins matapos maghain ng protesta laban sa Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), nanutok ng laser sa barko ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), na nasa resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal nitong Pebrero 6.

Tinawag naman ng Australian Ambassador to Manila HK Yu ang aksyon ng CCG na “unsafe and intimidatory” at nanawagan para sa “peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea.” Kris Jose