Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines and the United States have agreed to scale down joint exercises and reduce participating US troops, said a Philippine general involved in the talks between the two sides’ military officials in Manila on November 22.
The officials issued a joint statement affirming "close cooperation" between the two allies.
The joint statement does not mention any reduced level of engagement between the two militaries and confirms that there will be continued close cooperation in important areas for both countries’ national and security interests as well as in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-terrorism and maritime security, he said.
According to Reuters, the anonymous general said the two allies will focus more on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations and other non-traditional military training and exercises.
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