The United States and the Philippines have reached an agreement to create a new pathway for Afghan allies who assisted American efforts in Afghanistan. This program, announced on August 19, 2024, involves temporarily relocating these individuals to the Philippines as they await approval for US visas and resettlement.
This initiative comes three years after the collapse of the US-backed government in Kabul on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of US troops ordered by President Joe Biden in April of that year. The agreement is part of Operation Enduring Welcome, the Biden administration's effort to resettle Afghan allies.
Under the program, the Philippine government will process approximately 300 Afghans for resettlement while they await approval of special immigrant visas for the United States. US officials anticipate that the program could be extended and possibly expanded after the initial group moves through the Philippines.
The temporary nature of the arrangement is crucial for the government in Manila. US officials expect that Afghans would remain in the Philippines for no more than a few months. Those participating in the program have undergone vetting and received initial approval from US officials. The US government will provide food, housing, security, medical services, and transportation at a facility outside Manila.
This agreement builds on the Philippines' long humanitarian tradition. During World War II, between the late 1930s and 1941, the Philippines welcomed more than 1,200 Jewish refugees, mostly from Europe. Additionally, during the Vietnam War, the Philippines opened a center in northern Luzon to process 30,000 Vietnamese people fleeing their country.
"We're doing what we can to contribute in our small way into helping people who are displaced. I think the majority of people [in the Philippines] know that this is a good thing to do."
The deal reflects strengthened diplomatic and military ties between Washington and Manila. Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced plans to deepen defense cooperation and contribute $500 million to modernize the Philippine armed forces. The two nations have a mutual defense treaty, signed in 1951, and have grown closer since 2022 when Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office as President of the Philippines.
US officials, including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, played key roles in securing the deal. Vice President Harris suggested the idea to President Marcos Jr. during her visit to Manila in November 2022 and raised the proposal again in subsequent meetings.
The agreement comes amid ongoing challenges in the region, including tensions in the South China Sea. Recent incidents involving Chinese and Philippine vessels highlight the complex geopolitical landscape in which this humanitarian effort is taking place.
As the program moves forward, it will serve as a testament to the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines, while providing crucial support to Afghan allies who have assisted American efforts in Afghanistan.