Duterte Formally Moves to End a U.S.-Philippine Military Pact

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's Feb. 11 formal announcement to the United States that the Philippines would be withdrawing from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in six months will increase the urgency of negotiations set to begin in March between the two countries over the major bilateral military pact. While an end to the VFA would not end the two countries' military relationship given that several other security agreements would remain in force between them, it would complicate that relationship....