Recently, news has been circulating about the decline of the renewal of military bases agreement between the United States and a certain country. This has raised concerns and curiosity among many as to who made the decision to decline the renewal.
After conducting thorough research, it has been confirmed that the Philippines is the country in question that declined to renew the military bases agreement with the United States. It is important to note that this decision was not made overnight and has been in the works for quite some time.
The relationship between the Philippines and the United States dates back to the early 1900s when the Philippines was under American colonial rule. Since then, the two countries have maintained a strong alliance, especially in the area of defense and security.
The military bases agreement between the United States and the Philippines has been in place for several decades. However, in 1991, the Philippine Senate voted to end the lease of the US military bases in the country, including the infamous Subic Bay Naval Base and the Clark Air Base. This decision was made in response to the growing Philippine nationalism and the desire to assert their independence from American influence.
Despite the ending of the lease in 1991, the United States and the Philippines continued to maintain close defense ties. In 1999, the two countries signed the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which allowed for joint military exercises and the temporary deployment of US troops in the Philippines.
However, in February 2020, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would be terminating the VFA. This decision came after the United States reportedly canceled the visa of a Philippine senator who is a key ally of Duterte. The termination of the VFA was supposed to take effect in August of the same year, but it was later extended for another six months.
The termination of the VFA also meant that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States and the Philippines would also be affected. The EDCA allowed for the construction of facilities and the prepositioning of US military assets in the Philippines.
The decision to decline the renewal of the military bases agreement with the United States is seen by many as a continuation of Duterte`s efforts to distance the Philippines from its former colonial master. It is also seen as a way for the Philippines to assert its sovereignty and independence.
In conclusion, the Philippines is the country that declined to renew the military bases agreement with the United States. This decision is part of the country`s efforts to assert its independence and sovereignty, as well as to distance itself from its former colonial master. While this may put a strain on the defense ties between the two countries, it is important for both parties to continue to maintain a dialogue and work towards a mutually beneficial relationship.