Washington, Manila sign pact on sharing military intelligence

The Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing deal on Nov 18, deepening defense ties between the two nations facing common security challenges in the region.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed the agreement with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro at the Philippines' military headquarters, where they also broke ground for a coordination center that will facilitate collaboration between their armed forces.

Called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, the pact allows both countries to share classified military information securely.

"Not only will this allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States, but it will also open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations," said Philippine Defense Ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong.