Philippine Duterte: "If the US Does Not Provide Vaccines, Military Agreement Will End"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which serves as the basis for joint military exercises between the two countries, if the United States does not provide COVID-19 vaccines.

According to local media such as the Manila Bulletin on the 27th, President Duterte said the previous night, "The VFA will soon end," adding, "If I do not agree to that agreement, they (the U.S. military) will have to leave."

He further stated, "If the United States does not provide at least 20 million doses of vaccines, it is better for them to leave," and "If they do not provide vaccines, they cannot stay here."

The Philippines signed the VFA in 1998, which regulates the rights and obligations of U.S. troops entering the country for training and other purposes, and since then has conducted annual joint military exercises called 'Balikatan' in the Philippines.

However, in February this year, the Philippines unilaterally notified the U.S. of the termination of the VFA, and the agreement was scheduled to officially end in August after a 180-day transition period. But after notifying the U.S. twice to halt the termination process, it is expected to be maintained until the first half of next year.

President Duterte's use of the VFA card to pressure the U.S. for vaccine supply appears to be based on the judgment that the already difficult local COVID-19 situation could worsen due to the emergence of variants such as the UK strain.

President Duterte abruptly canceled the decision to extend the ban on arrivals from the UK from the end of this year to mid-January next year and to allow pilot face-to-face classes in schools located in low-risk COVID-19 areas starting January next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.