MANILA, Philippines — US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will be in town next week to sew back the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and United States in the face of China’s increasing aggression in the Asia Pacific region. Esper rose to prominence recently after presiding over the US Delta Force operation to get Islamic State leader Al Baghdadi which led to the killing of the world’s most wanted terrorist. Esper’s visit to the Philippines is part of his itinerary around Asia Pacific countries — South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The visit to Manila comes months after Lorenzana called for a review of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and United States. In September, the Philippines and United States have agreed to conduct more than 300 joint military exercises in 2020, an increase from 281 in 2019.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 14, 2019 12:33 UTC