The Philippines and the United States signed an agreement on Monday to exchange military intelligence, aimed at enhancing security cooperation and addressing regional challenges.

The agreement allows for the exchange of classified military information and is known as the Military Information Security Agreement.

Additionally, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro inaugurated a joint coordination center to support military cooperation, amid joint efforts to counter China’s policies in the South China Sea, under the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951.