ON Thursday, reelected 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez expressed support for President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s efforts to strengthen the country’s defense through international agreements.
Rodriguez even welcomed the recent signing of a defense pact between the Philippines and Germany, which took place at the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed the agreement covering cybersecurity, defense equipment, logistics, and peacekeeping efforts.
“I am urging PBBM to negotiate more of these arrangements with other countries. It will strengthen our defense posture about the dispute in the West Philippine Sea,” Rodriguez said.
He added that these new partnerships show support for the Philippines’ position on its rights in the West Philippine Sea, citing the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea.
“More defense partners mean more support for our assertion of our rights,” Rodriguez stressed.
The Department of National Defense announced the Germany agreement as part of the country’s broader efforts to build international defense ties.
The Philippines has also signed agreements with New Zealand and is set to finalize one with Canada.
President Marcos has also approved negotiations with France for a Visiting Forces Agreement.
Filipino troops recently participated in joint military exercises with U.S. and Japanese forces during the Balikatan drills in Northern Luzon.
These moves are part of the Philippines’ strategy to enhance regional security amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
