Courtesy: Philippine Army
Senior U.S. defense officials reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the Philippine Army (PA) and the U.S. Army during a courtesy call on newly-appointed Army chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, at PA headquarters.
In a statement, the PA said that Col. Daniel J. Oh, Senior Defense Officer and Chief of the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group–Philippines (JUSMAG-PHIL), and Col. John Matthew Sova, U.S. Army Attaché, met with Nafarrete to discuss strengthening interoperability and sustaining joint military engagements.
Nafarrete assured the visiting officers of continued collaboration, citing regular joint exercises such as the annual Salaknib and the multilateral Balikatan, during which PA units engaged in combined training and subject matter expert exchanges with U.S. counterparts.
Oh oversees both security and non-security assistance missions, including military-to-military programs under the Mutual Defense Board.
Col. Sova, meanwhile, serves as liaison for security cooperation and relationship-building with the PA.
Nafarrete said the visit highlights the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States, founded on shared commitments to peace, security, and regional stability.
“The call of the two senior defense officials is a testament to the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the U.S., embodying the shared values of peace, security and regional stability,” PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala.
