Review the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 and EDCA

February 10, 2019 Sideglance

Department of National Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana is calling for the review of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States signed in 1951. If that’s the case then even the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) should also be thoroughly reviewed in order to either strengthen it or even dissolve it if it is perceived as a useless agreement.

The reason for the need to also review the EDCA if the MDT will be reviewed has to do with certain provisions contained in the former particularly that of the intention of both parties to promote the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through capacity building, interoperability, strengthening the AFP for external defense, maritime domain awareness and finally humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADAR).

These are the initiatives contained in the EDCA and very clearly it provides that the United States shall be instrumental in the promotion of the modernization of the AFP aswell as augmenting its military capability for external defense.

Unfortunately since the time the MDT and the EDCA has been established no substantial, I repeat, no substantial material or technological assistance has been provided by the Americans that would clearly support the modernization efforts of the AFP in terms of its operational capabilities for defense and offense against any external aggression.

What we have seen and experienced in the past and even until now is merely lip service and the promise of future military assistance in the event that the Philippines is put into military conflict with another country.

This is a lot of nonsense. If the US really intends to help the AFP then it should have already provided or sold modern and brand new fighter jets, destroyers and other naval military vessels with offensive capabilities, submarines and helicopters as well as advanced technology such as radars and drones to detect external military threats.

This has never happened since 1951 and even until now. The United States was never really a big brother to the Philippines but more of stranger allowed to enter a house on the promise that it will offer protection when needed.

Right now there is the present threat of the expansionist ambitions being made by China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), and the islands dotting those waters and claimed by several countries in South East Asia to include the Philippines.

This is precisely the reason behind the idea of Defense Secretary Lorenzana to finally call for a review of the MDT. Although it should be pointed out that if there is any review to be made in the MDT then the EDCA should be included since the provisions contained in the latter reveal the intention of both parties, more particularly the US of promoting the modernization and operational upgrade of the AFP.

If the US still insists that it cannot sell nor loan its advanced military hardware to its partner in the MDT and the EDCA then the country should have both deals dissolved since they would be nothing more than mere scraps of paper.