Philippines: Transfer of US Aircraft Carrier Will Not Affect Military Activities

The Philippine Armed Forces announced that the departure of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington from the Pacific will not affect any planned activities between Philippine and U.S. military units. Speaking at a press conference, Philippine Armed Forces spokesperson Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said, “For the Philippines, the movement of a carrier strike group from the Indo-Pacific Command to the Middle East will not affect the activities of the Joint Defense Board—the Security Engagement Board for this year. In fact, we are now in the middle of the year, and we have already surpassed the halfway point. Many activities have already been carried out.” Trinidad reaffirmed that the defense commitment between the Philippines and the United States is “firm and unwavering,” according to the Philippine News Agency. He added, “We do not anticipate any decline or slowdown in our joint defense activities between the Philippines and the United States.”