US team begins final security survey of select AFP units

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 5, 2024): US team begins final security survey of select AFP units (By Priam Nepomuceno)

SECURITY VISIT. Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Defense Technology Security Administration pose for a photo in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sept. 3, 2024. The US DTSA's final Security Assistance Visit to select units of the AFP is a critical step towards finalizing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Philippines and the US. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – A team from the United States Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) and the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) commenced the final Security Assistance Visit (SAV) to select units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a statement late Wednesday, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the survey is a critical step towards finalizing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between Manila and Washington DC.

This came after the meeting between Steve James of the US DTSA and AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sept. 3.

The SAV aims to assess the AFP's security practices, focusing on key areas, such as information security, physical security, computer security, and security training.

"This evaluation will ensure that AFP units meet the security standards required to handle sensitive military information, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of bilateral operations between the two allied nations," Trinidad added.

The GSOMIA between the Philippines and the United States will bolster defense cooperation and facilitate the exchange of classified information, enhancing the operational readiness of both countries in addressing mutual security challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The DTSA's assessment marks a significant milestone in advancing the defense relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

This also highlights the shared commitment to maintaining regional security and upholding a rules-based international order.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1232669