Soldiers unload firearms Manila bought from Washington at Camp Aguinaldo, July 17, 2019.Handout
MANILA - The United States delivered military hardware the Philippines acquired Wednesday, part of efforts to upgrade the armed forces.
The turnover happened on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte invoked Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington over maritime tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea, a remark Malacañang has called "sarcasm."
'I'm calling now America': Duterte invokes defense treaty with US
Washington delivered 10 M-107 .50 caliber sniper rifles to the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on July 17, six days after the order arrived at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga on July 11, the US embassy said in a statement Thursday.
The US has previously delivered firearms, radios, and night vision devices among others. It said it would also train the Armed Forces of the Philippines to operate and maintain the equipment.
The US reiterated its support to the Philippines by saying it would provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief, grant assistance, and faster sales of firearms and ammunition.
Duterte had said Manila would no longer procure weapons from the US after it threatened to impose sanctions on countries buying military equipment from Russia, but later said he would "reconsider."
MANILA - The United States delivered military hardware the Philippines acquired Wednesday, part of efforts to upgrade the armed forces.
The turnover happened on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte invoked Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington over maritime tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea, a remark Malacañang has called "sarcasm."
'I'm calling now America': Duterte invokes defense treaty with US
Washington delivered 10 M-107 .50 caliber sniper rifles to the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on July 17, six days after the order arrived at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga on July 11, the US embassy said in a statement Thursday.
The US has previously delivered firearms, radios, and night vision devices among others. It said it would also train the Armed Forces of the Philippines to operate and maintain the equipment.
The US reiterated its support to the Philippines by saying it would provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief, grant assistance, and faster sales of firearms and ammunition.
Duterte had said Manila would no longer procure weapons from the US after it threatened to impose sanctions on countries buying military equipment from Russia, but later said he would "reconsider."
Duterte says to reconsider purchasing US weapons
The US and the Philippines have long-standing military ties, with the 1951 defense treaty binding the two sides to come to each other's aid in case of external aggression.
The long-time allies regularly conduct joint military drills.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/18/19/us-delivers-new-rifles-to-the-philippines
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