CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City— The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) affirmed continued security cooperation with the United Kingdom during the courtesy call of UK Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Laure Beaufils to the Vice Chief of Staff, AFP (VCSAFP) LtGen Arthur Cordura at the AFP General Headquarters on March 21. The meeting is part of the AFP's international defense and security engagements.
During their meeting, Ambassador Beaufils and the VCSAFP discussed issues of mutual concern, including regional stability and international maritime law. They also stressed the importance of continued security and defense cooperation and welcomed possible future security engagements between the Philippines and the UK. They also discussed and supported each other's initiatives to maintain stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region against the backdrop of rules-based order and international law.
Ambassador Beaufils relayed the developments in the UK's foreign and security policies in the Indo-Pacific, including the recently announced Australia-UK-US submarine program and the UK-Japan-Italy fighter jet development partnership. She added that these, along with the persistent presence of the UK's naval vessels in international waters of the Indo-Pacific, are part of the UK's long-term investment in the region.
The VCSAFP extended the AFP's gratitude to the UK for supporting its capacity enhancement through training and high-level exchanges. He also acknowledged the ongoing intelligence information sharing and expressed the AFP's openness to future multilateral engagements with the UK and other allies that will promote common interests. /// (Photos by SSg Ambay/PAO, AFP)
