Philippines-Australia defence talks open

PHILIPPINES and Australian officials have opened a two-day meeting aimed at expanding defense co-operation in maritime security and military training

Link

This is great news for Australia & Phillippnes this will bring the two countries closer

An interesting and welcome expansion on the current defence agreement. I wonder if the maritime operations are aimed more at halting piracy, people smuggling, drug-running, or perhaps even the exportation of WMDs.

I also wonder if this will mean an increased Australian committment to assisting the Philippines in their struggle against their various terrorist groups. Perhaps we will be sending advisors to assist in the training of counter-terrorist forces or some form of similar joint counter-terrorism effort.