By Patricia Lourdes Viray
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) is open to a greater defense cooperation with its neighbors, including Australia, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
In an interview with the Australian Naval Institute, Lorenzana noted that the country has bigger military-to-military engagement with Australia than any of its Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbors.
The extent of the relationship between the Philippines and Australia is second to that of the United States, the Defense secretary said.
"We have signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia that governs the Exercise Dawn Caracha between armies and Exercise Lumbas between navies here in the Philippines, as well as the Exercise Dusk Caracha between armies in Australia," Lorenzana said.
The Philippines participates in the Australian exercise Kakadu while the latter's army also participates in the Balikatan exercises between Filipino and American troops.
Lorenzana said that the DND is eyeing to use the military exercises to gain access to the best practices of Australia.
Read the full story at PhilStar