Manila, Feb. 19 -- The Philippines and the United States (US) have further strengthened their long-standing alliance by signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a legally binding accord that will facilitate the secure exchange of classified military information and technology between the two militaries and nations.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and the then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III formally signed the GSOMIA on Nov. 18, 2024, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Commissioned Officers' Club in Manila. The asset-sharing agreement, finally cemented after years of arduous negotiations, is aimed at enhancing both nations' military interoperability and paving the way for the a...