US eyes ammo factory in Subic

United States Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson is unsurprised by plans to establish a mutual ammunition co-production factory in the former US Naval Base Subic Bay.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

In an interview on the sidelines of the US Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 3, the envoy recalled the joint statement by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the prospect “for enhancing our defense industrial cooperation through potentially co-production here in the Philippines.”

In a June 16 report, the US House Committee on Appropriations ordered federal agencies in charge of defense and foreign policy, as well as their government investment arm, to assess “the feasibility of establishing a joint ammunition manufacturing and storage facility” in Subic Bay.

“So, I’m not surprised, given the very strong bipartisan support for the Philippines and the US Congress, that they’re also looking at ways that we can continue to enhance US-Philippine defense cooperation here in the Philippines,” she said.

The two countries have enhanced their defense cooperation in recent years as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aims to strengthen the country’s military capabilities in light of China's continued assertive actions in the South China Sea.