The President of the United States (POTUS), President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday that the United States of America would hand over two warships to the Philippine Navy to boost its maritime security capabilities. The announcement of Pres. Obama was made during the visit of the US President to the Philippine Navy flagship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
Watch the Announcement of Pres. Obama Giving the Philippines Two Ships:
The announcement of Pres. Obama is part of the US bid to show that the United States and its allies in the region won’t be cowed down by China in disputed waters off the coast of the Philippines.
According to Pres. Obama, one of the two ships is a former US Coast Guard Cutter and the other one is a research vessel. The two vessel were part of a broader American plan to scale up assistance to naval forces in Southeast Asia.
Pres. Obama also stated that the United States had an “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines-a US treaty ally-and a mutual commitment to free and safe navigation at sea.
The ships which will be donated to the Philippine Navy would help the country navigate and patrol its territorial waters. As regional tensions in China have simmered, Washington has sought out symbolic ways to counter Beijing’s claims in the regions without putting itself in direct confrontation with powerhouse China.
