The U.S. Embassy in Manila has been notified accordingly.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has notified the U.S. of the termination of the Foreign Armed Forces Treaty. Deputy Foreign Secretary Dodo Doulay said this on his Twitter page on Tuesday.
“By order of President [Rodrigo Duterte], transmitted through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Loxin signed today a notice of termination of the Foreign Military Status Treaty, which will be immediately transmitted to the U.S. Embassy in Manila”, – the U.S. Deputy Secretary said.
According to the Manila Bulletin, the agreement will be terminated 180 days after Washington receives the letter. The Visiting Forces Agreement was signed in 1998 and regulates the entry and stay of U.S. military personnel in the Philippines, providing also a legal basis for joint exercises in the country.
The decision to terminate the agreement was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte in January, following Washington’s refusal to grant a visa to Philippine Senator Ronald Rosa. Such a step is seen by the president as interference in Manila’s internal affairs. The U.S. budget law, signed by President Donald Trump in early January, includes a provision banning Philippine officials associated with a lawsuit against opposition politician Leila de Lima from entering the United States. This provision was applied to Philippine Senator Ronald Rosa.