The European Union (EU) is willing to work closely with the Philippines to improve security measures at sea.
The President of the EU’s executive branch, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed this during her visit to Manila for talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
During a press briefing, President von der Leyen said that the EU and the Philippines share many common values and interests.
They both want to strengthen their democratic systems and believe in international rules and order. They discussed various areas of cooperation, including trade, climate change, digital connectivity, critical raw materials, and security.
One important aspect of the cooperation is maritime security.
The EU is ready to collaborate with the Philippines by exchanging information, assessing threats, and enhancing the capacity of the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) and the Coast Guard.
The NCWC is responsible for implementing maritime security measures and is chaired by the executive secretary as part of an inter-agency body.
President von der Leyen highlighted that security cooperation is not only crucial for Europe but also for the Indo-Pacific region.
Just like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has emphasized, security issues affect everyone in our interconnected world.
Rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific can have economic consequences, such as higher energy and food costs, which is why they are concerned about it.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 1, 2023
