Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's visit to the United States last week has strengthened cooperation between the two countries as Washington is seeking to expand influence in Southeast Asia.

US eyes Southeast Asia

The U.S.-Philippines summit, the first of its kind since President Barack Obama took office in January, took place at a time when the two countries are eager to further bilateral ties and security and economic cooperation.

Arroyo, whose visit came on the heels of those by leaders of key U.S. allies such as Japan and Israel, said the United States is "very essential" to the economic, diplomatic and national security of the Philippines.

Obama, meanwhile, hailed the traditional friendship between the two countries and called the Philippines the "coordinating country" in U.S. relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Washington has stepped up efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia where sea lanes are vital to world trade in oil, food and manufactured goods.

The 10-member ASEAN, of which Manila is a founding nation, aims to create a European Union-style economic bloc by 2015 with more than 580 million consumers.

Last year, the U.S. share of trade with Southeast Asia fell to 12 percent from 17 percent since 1993, according to ASEAN statistics.

In a move to renew America's commitment in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in July in Thailand with ASEAN countries. She said: "The United States is back in Southeast Asia."

The treaty, which gives the United States a seat at regional forums, offers a broader perspective for cooperation and marks a shift of U.S. policy in Southeast Asia from the former Bush administration, which was blamed for its security-first mindset on ties with the region.

Military cooperation

With terrorism still high on the agenda, military cooperation remains a key part in the U.S. relationship with Southeast Asia. The recent terrorist attacks in the Indonesian capital Jakarta has prompted the need for strengthened cooperation.

Historically, the United States had maintained a military presence in the Philippines for 93 years before it was forced to close its military bases -- the Clark Air Force Base and the Subic Naval Base in 1992.

However, there are growing indications that the United States is seeking to restore a military presence in the Pacific island country after the Bush administration launched an international anti-terror war following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Although the United States has so far no fixed military bases in the Philippines, military exercises between the two countries have steadily risen in recent years. The United States remains the Philippines' largest source of military aid and has been training Philippine troops.

In June 2008, Arroyo visited the White House at the invitation of then President George W. Bush. Prior to the Obama-Arroyo meeting, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and CIA Director Leon Panetta visited the Philippines in June and July respectively.

The frequency of high-level visits shows that the two countries are ready for comprehensive cooperation, including military cooperation, between the two countries.

However, military cooperation could remain a tricky issue in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, in a region whose colonial past is still a sensitive subject, analysts say.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2009)