US Navy Intelligence Visits Philippines to Bolster Capabilities
On January 14, the U.S. Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Steve Parode and Assistant Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Sandra Brown made a “strategic visit” to Manila in the Philippines. This visit covered an array of topics and focused on “enhancing and and expanding the partnership between the NIE and Philippines”, according to a U.S. Navy release.
The goal of the visit was not only an effort to show commitment to the Philippines as an ally on the part of the U.S., but also to increase the US Navy’s readiness in the region by increasing intelligence sharing among U.S. allies. Parode said:
“We met to reaffirm that our navies are deeply committed to partnering to grow our mutual understanding of persistent threats to freedom of the seas and the security of internationally recognized waters and economic zones, in order to rapidly respond to provocative and destabilizing activities.”
This visit comes after the signing of an intel treaty and the opening of a new command center last November, showing that the U.S. Navy is committed to the treaty. This also comes in the wake of recent increases in Chinese military activity within the Philippine exclusive economic zone which led to the severe injury of a sailor last June, signifying an increase in tensions between the two countries. The Philippine Navy and Coast Guard have struggled to combat and deter incursions by the China Maritime Militia into their exclusive economic zone for the past several years. Beijing has sent these ships to harass the Philippine forces and assert its claims over the waters that Manila considers its EEZ.
The visit comes during a larger effort of the U.S. to bolster its allies in the Pacific region, as well as part of a desire on the part of both the American and Philippine governments to increase military ties. Likewise, the increase in intelligence capabilities that the intelligence sharing treaty and continued visits of U.S. military officials grants may be extremely valuable to the Philippine Navy and military as a whole going forward, especially with regards to Chinese military activity.