Metro Manila, Philippines – The exemption of military assistance to the Philippines from the US aid freeze shows the strong partnership of the two allies, the country’s ambassador to Washington said on Monday, Feb. 24.
The multibillion-peso security assistance to strengthen the capability of the Philippine armed forces is among the latest exemptions to the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze policy.
“We are pleased with this development. It’s another sign that our strong partnership with the US remains intact,” said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez in confirming Washington’s decision to NewsWatch Plus in a text message
In an exclusive report, Reuters obtained a list of 243 more exemptions approved as of Feb. 13 totaling $5.3 billion.
The majority of funds approved for release will go to the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which oversees arms sales and military assistance to other countries and groups.
Security exemptions include $870 million for programs in Taiwan (roughly P50.33 billion), $336 million (P19.4 billion) for modernizing Philippine security forces, and more than $21.5 million (P1.24 billion) for body armor and armored vehicles for Ukraine’s national police and border guards, according to the list.
