Manila: The U.S. government has provided guided missiles to its partner the Philippines to counter terrorist groups affiliated with Islamic State and to defend against an attack in the South China Sea. Missiles and other weapons have been provided.
On behalf of the U.S. government, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien attended a State Department event in Manila on Monday where he presented the Philippine military with missiles and other weapons. Supply announced.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in April, pledged 18 million worth of missiles. O’Brien expressed condolences to the Philippines over the loss of life and property in a series of cyclonic storms and underlined US assistance to the country in dealing with the coronavirus epidemic.
O’Brien noted the role of the US government in defeating the Islamic State terrorist group in West Asia and pledged to eliminate IS-linked terrorists in the southern Philippines.
Bryan also reiterated an earlier statement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that any attack on Philippine military forces in the South China Sea would be done in accordance with the commitment under the bilateral partnership.
