Sec. 1269. Report on enhanced defense relations with the Philippines
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Not later than June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter through 2029, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on enhancing the United States defense relationship with the Philippines. Each report required by subsection
(a)shall include, at a minimum, the following: An assessment of the implementation of the United States-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines. An organizational chart and overview of the functions of the alliance management bodies that report to the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board. A summary of the activities of the Roles, Missions, and Capabilities Working Group. An assessment of the bilateral Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap initiative, including a description of joint capability areas under such initiative. A projected resourcing plan for the Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap initiative that includes the projected use of national funds of the Philippines, Foreign Military Sales, Foreign Military Financing, and Department of Defense International Security Cooperation Program account funds. A description of the activities and investments the Department plans, during the three-year period beginning on the date on which the report is submitted, to implement for— increased bilateral training, exercises, combined patrols, and other activities between the United States Armed Forces and the military forces of the Philippines; enhancing multilateral security cooperation and capacity-building efforts among the Philippines, Japan, Australia, and other foreign partners; and improving information-sharing mechanisms and processes, including by adoption of enhanced security protocols, under the General Security of Military Information Agreement between the United States and the Philippines, signed at Manila November 18, 2024. A plan for improving the infrastructure at sites designated under the Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation, signed at Quezon City April 28, 2014 (TIAS 14-625), including, for each such site— an identification of priority facility investments at the site across the future-years defense program; a timeline for completing area development plans for the site; and a discussion of non-Department investments necessary to enable effective use of the site. An assessment of requirements for pre-positioning of equipment and supplies in support of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and other bilateral activities. A description of the current organization of the Joint United States Military Assistance Group—Philippines, and an analysis of the feasibility and advisability of modifying United States organizational structures to— coordinate United States military activities and operations involving the Philippines; and facilitate integrated planning and implementation of bilateral activities. An identification of challenges to the implementation of the guidelines, initiatives, plans, timelines, functions, activities, investments, and potential modifications described in paragraphs
(1)through (9), and any resourcing requirements, bilateral agreements, or other measures that would facilitate the implementation of such guidelines, initiatives, plans, timelines, functions, activities, investments, or potential modifications. Each report required by subsection
(a)shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.