With the need for strengthening the Philippines’ external defense being highlighted by recent developments in maritime affairs, France declared this week its readiness to discuss with the Philippines a deal for defense modernization.
In a round table discussion, French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Mathou disclosed that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed its intent to modernize military and defense capabilities.
“We know the Philippines needs to modernize its defense equipment,” Mathou told reporters at the sidelines of the Bastille Day celebration in his residence.
The ambassador added that France has made various important deals, including the supply of submarines to Australia.
He cited that the Aquino administration had started a “very ambitious plan to modernize the army.”
“I understand the new government intends to continue this and we are ready and eager to discuss. We need an agreement to realize their plans,” Mathou said.
The Philippines and France recently forged a defense cooperation arrangement.
The ambassador said the defense pact was different from the Philippine agreement with the United States and that it is just a “classical defense” accord.
“It’s an agreement to exchange expertise, to exchange point of views, to discuss technology, equipment… it’s quite a broad agreement. It’s the occasion for us to discuss different issues related to defense in the Philippines,” he said.
Mathou said the recent arrangement was just a “renewal” of a similar agreement between his country and the Philippines back in the 1980s.
“We thought it [defense pact] has to be renewed so we negotiated with the former administration and was very happy to sign it. Now in each important sector we have a framework agreement and defense is important,” he added.
