TUTULONG umano ang Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas upang maging moderno ang defense capability nito.

Bukod dito sinabi ni United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin na palalakasin din ang interoperability ng military forces ng Amerika at Pilipinas.

“From defense perspective, we will continue to work together with our great partners and to build and modernize your capabilities as well as increase our interoperability,” ani Austin sa kanyang opening remarks bago ang pakikipagpulong nito kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Malacañang.

“So we are very, very happy to be here once again and I look forward to a great discussion with you, Mr. President,” sabi ng US defense chief.

Ayon kay Pangulong Marcos nakikita nito ang lalo pang pagtibay ng relasyon ng Pilipinas at Asia Pacific at Amerika.

“And again, I have always said that it seems to me that the future of the Philippines and, for that matter, the Asia Pacific will always have to involve the United States simply because those partnerships are so strong and so historically embedded in our common psyches that can only be an advantage to both our countries,” ani Pangulong Marcos.

“So thank you once again for coming to visit with us and to give us the opportunity to discuss with you and through you, the American government, our own outlook on this situation as it stands at the present,” sabi pa ng Pangulong Marcos.

Nagpasalamat naman si Pangulong Marcos sa pagbisita ni Austin sa gitna ng komplikadong sitwasyon sa rehiyon.

“As we traverse these rather troubled waters — geopolitical waters, the economic waters — that we are facing, I again put great importance on that partnerships, specifically with the United States… all partnerships and alliances that we are able to make with our friends around the world,” wika pa ng Pangulo.