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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has recently suspended a decision that was described by analysts as one of the geopolitical shocks of the decade. In February, the President announced he would rip up the long-standing Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, which operationalises the two countries' Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT), signed in 1951. The MDT is similar to Australia's ANZUS security pact with the US — also signed in 1951 — as an attack in the Pacific threatening either party's "territorial integrity, political independence, or security" will automatically trigger a consultation process between Manila and Washington. The cancellation of...

MANILA, Philippines – Former foreign secretary Albert Del Rosario on Wednesday, February 12, denounced President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to terminate the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, calling it a "national tragedy" that was harmful to Filipinos. "This continuing shift in foreign policy casting aside a long time reliable ally in favor of an aggressive neighbor that has been blatantly demonstrating its lack of respect for international law is incomprehensible and harmful to our country and our people," Del Rosario said in a statement. "What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which should...

MDT Armor's assembly plant in Israel - MDT's vehicle armoring business has years of battlefield experience and has provided life-saving protection under the most extreme conditions, which include assault rifles and bomb blasts. MDT Protective Industries Ltd. An Israeli company - MDT Armor - that manufactures vehicular armor, has recently supplied four armored vehicles to be operated in Iraq, including two vehicles for an unnamed embassy in Baghdad. The company, a subsidiary of Arotech Corporation, has already delivered the two vehicles to the embassy, according to Jonathan Whartman, Senior Vice President of Communications. The two other vehicles are being assembled...