New york: The Philippines is among the nations poised to benefit from the United States' recent allocation of USD55 million, or approximately PHP3.2 billion, aimed at bolstering maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, as announced by the US Department of State.

According to Philippines News Agency, the funding is intended to enhance the maritime law enforcement capacities of several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Pacific Islands, and unspecified 'maritime South Asian nations.' The initiative will aid these countries in countering illicit maritime activities, exercising sovereign rights, and interdicting illegal fishing and maritime trafficking operations.

The announcement of the funding took place during a US-co-hosted ministerial meeting titled 'Reinforcing Cooperation to Achieve a Secure and Stable Maritime Domain,' held alongside the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on September 24. At the meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro urged nations to uphold international law and cooperation at sea.

State Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized the need for collective actions to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, which includes the South China Sea. He also criticized China's 'expansive and unlawful maritime claims' in the crucial sea lane and the destabilizing methods it employs to enforce them. Rubio called for close coordination among countries to reinforce the freedoms of navigation and overflight, along with the free flow of global commerce.

Rubio further shared his thoughts on X, stating, "Discussed critical maritime security issues with my counterparts at the UN today. A free, open Indo-Pacific is vital to global trade and security. Together, we're building a coalition to safeguard these principles."

The meeting saw active participation from forty countries and was co-hosted by the US in collaboration with the Philippines, Australia, Estonia, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, and the United Kingdom.