MOSCOW, February 1 – RIA Novosti. The United States may announce this week that it will expand its access to military bases in the Philippines as part of Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Manila, CNN reported, citing several US Defense Department officials.
Austin on January 29 went on a trip to Asia, during which he will visit South Korea and the Philippines.
“The US military is seeking to expand its access to bases in the Philippines with an eye on China as part of the ongoing shift in the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. An announcement could be made as early as this week,” the channel said.
In January, the local Inquirer newspaper reported that more than 16,000 Filipino and US soldiers would take part in the Balikatan joint military exercise, which will take place from April 24 to 27 in the Philippine city of Laolang.
Source: RIA