The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States is a deterrent to conflicts in the South China Sea, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said.
In an interview with GMA News, Carlson said the treaty has “great value” amid tensions in the region, but admitted it cannot be automatically invoked.
She concurred with President Ferdinand Marcos that invoking the MDT now would not serve any purpose
“I 100% agree with what President Marcos said. The MDT is about deterring conflict. It’s about ensuring that we’re strong enough that no one will, that no power, no issue will arise that will threaten our peoples,” Carlson said.
“The gray zone tactics are our concern but that’s not anything that we are not able to address as we work together. Remember, our militaries work together day in day out every single day, 24/7, 365 a year,” she added.
She cited the strong cooperation between Manila and Washington.
“We are more capable of addressing these threats as they arise,” she said.
Carlson, however, declined to answer a hypothetical question on whether an armed attack is needed to trigger the MDT.
“I don’t want to get into hypotheticals. It’s not as if somehow you trip a wire, and it’s automatically invoked,” Carlson said.
“These are negotiations, these are discussions that our countries, our leadership, our militaries have day in day out,” she added.