The Philippines explained the return of the military agreement with the United States by the supply of vaccines

The decision of the Philippine authorities to restore the agreement on the presence in the country of the US Armed Forces (VFA) was made, among other things, because of the supply of coronavirus vaccines by Washington. This was stated by Harry Roque, spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, reports Manila Bulletin. According to him, "a combination of circumstances" led to this.

Duterte, in an address to the nation, said that restoring the VFA was a "compromise" strategy. "Let's thank the US [for supplying vaccines], I gave them something as a concession," he said.

“I would like to thank President Biden of the United States and the government and people of America for not forgetting us. Don't forget us because we share the same views on geopolitics, especially in Southeast Asia," the President of the Philippines added.

On August 3, the United States supplied the Philippines with 3 million doses of Moderna vaccine under the COVAX program, which provides free supply of vaccines to poor countries. In mid-July, Washington donated 3.2 million doses of Johnson & Johnson to Manila. As noted by Rappler, this is the largest donation the Philippines has received from a single country. The White House said that they arranged the deliveries without any conditions, but because "it is right from a moral point of view."