MANILA, Philippines – The United States and the Philippines have officially sealed their nuclear energy cooperation agreements, also known as 123 Agreements allowing the global power to deploy nuclear technologies to its longtime ally.
An announcement made by the US State Department on Tuesday (July 9) Manila time said the US-Philippines Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy already came into force last July 2.
The US State Department said the agreement anchored on nearly eight decades of peaceful nuclear cooperation between the two nations and establishes a framework for continued US-Philippines civil nuclear trade.
Furthermore, the agreement was part of broader US efforts to develop the country’s civil nuclear sector.
“This Agreement provides a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation with the Philippines based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. It will permit the transfer of nuclear material, equipment (including reactors), components, and information for nuclear research and civil nuclear energy production,” the US State Department statement said.
The US has forged similar agreements with other countries such as Russia, China, Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
In 2023, the Philippines and the US signed a nuclear deal following a negotiation spearheaded by Vice President Kamala Harris during Manila visit.
The agreement had laid out foundations for peaceful nuclear cooperations between the two countries allowing for the smooth transfer of nuclear material to the country for peaceful uses.
