Italy and the Philippines are in the final stages of discussing an agreement to enhance their military cooperation, as confirmed by Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente.
“We are working hard to finalize a memorandum that, when agreed upon after receiving political authorization, will make so much easier our industrial relationships,“ he said.
The naval vessel “Francesco Morisini,“ the second vessel of the Italian Navy's multipurpose offshore patrol vessel class, recently arrived in Manila for a 5-day port call, marking an important development in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
During a press conference, Ambassador Clemente announced that the 144-meter multipurpose patrol vessel would engage in a joint exercise with the Philippine military while docked in Manila.
This exercise is seen as a significant opportunity to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
“The exercise in the port of Manila will open a lot of opportunities. This presence of the ship Morosini can make a difference for the future of our bilateral relations,“ Clemente said.
Although the Ambassador did not provide specific details about the defense agreement being formulated between Manila and Rome, he mentioned that negotiations were underway to establish clear legal parameters to improve military cooperation, particularly in the field of the military industry.
He also emphasized that the presence of the ship in the area sends a strong signal, underscoring Italy's keen interest in regional stability and its willingness to contribute towards maintaining peace in the region.
“Italy is very much interested in the stability of the region, and this is a military aspect also that must be thrashed out during the meetings that will take place in the context of this visit,” said the ambassador.
The Francesco Morosini possesses the capability to perform a range of tasks, including civil protection activities, patrols, logistics support, transportation, and surface combat.
