MANILA, Philippines – Hindi nakakagulat ang posibleng pagtatayo ng ammunition factory at depot sa dating American base sa Subic, Zambales, sinabi ni United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson nitong Huwebes, Hulyo 3.
Sa June 16 report, inatasan kasi ng US House committee on appropriations ang federal agencies na in charge sa defense at foreign policy, maging ang kanilang investment arm, na suriin ang “feasibility of establishing a joint ammunition manufacturing and storage facility” sa dating US Naval Base Subic Bay.
“I am not surprised, given the very strong bipartisan support for the Philippines in the US Congress, that they’re also looking at ways that they can continue to enhance US-Philippines defense cooperation here in the Philippines,” ani Carlson sa isang panayam.
Iginiit niya na nag-usap na sina US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Department of National Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. sa prospects ng pagkakaroon ng defense-related co-production facility nang bumisita si Hegseth noong Marso.
Bukas naman ito kay Teodoro ngunit sinabi na hindi pa nakatatanggap ang Manila ng format proposal mula sa Washington patungkol dito.
Nagpahayag ng pangamba ang US House committee on appropriations “with the lack of a forward-staged ammunition manufacturing facility in the Indo-Pacific.” RNT/JGC
