Philippines Air Force Acting Commanding General Ramon Guiang, Assistant Secretary of the Office of American Affairs Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Philippines defence chief Carlito Galvez Jr., U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, and Philippines Military Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs Jeffrey Hechanova pose for a photo during the groundbreaking ceremony for an airstrip extension and rehabilitation project under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) agreement, at Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines, March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
The United States and Philippines will announce new sites as soon as possible for an expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which gives the Western power access to military bases in the Southeast Asian country.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last month granted the United States access to four military bases, on top of five existing locations under the 2014 EDCA, which comes amid China's increasing assertiveness towards the South China Sea and self-ruled Taiwan.
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