Rappler's latest stories on treaty
U.S., Russia divided over Chinese role in nuclear talks
Observers fear New START could go the way of several other international agreements, which have fallen by the wayside during Donald Trump's tenure in line with his 'America First' foreign policy
China to join U.N. arms trade treaty, 'enhance' world peace
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian says China, now the 2nd largest arms producer in the world, will make a 'continuous effort to maintain and enhance peace and stability in the world and region'
Europeans rally around defense pact dropped by Trump
The US accuses Russia of blocking flights over certain sites and forbidding surveys of military exercises, normally allowed under Open Skies
Trump to withdraw U.S. from 'Open Skies' treaty
Donald Trump says Moscow did not stick to its commitments under the 18-year-old Open Skies Treaty, which is designed to improve military transparency and confidence between the superpowers
Choose U.S. or China? Carpio offers 3rd way
Terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement will make the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement useless, says retired justice Antonio Carpio
With threats to scrap VFA, Duterte gambles Philippines' security
Duterte's latest outburst against the US isolates the country from its oldest ally and sows uncertainty against the threat of any Chinese aggression
EXPLAINER: Visiting Forces Agreement
President Duterte has threatened to scrap the military pact between the Philippines and the United States. Here's what you should know about it.
Senate panel to review VFA, other Philippine defense pacts
'Number 1, ano ang benefits na nakuha ng Pilipinas dito? What is the national interest at stake in these agreements?' says Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on some questions to be taken up at the planned hearing
Malacañang downplays possibility of U.S. terminating other military pacts
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Duterte government is not concerned the United States may terminate other military treaties following the Philippines' move to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement
DOJ: Effects of VFA termination on EDCA, Mutual Defense Treaty have to be studied
The justice department is ready with its memorandum on the legal procedures to terminate the 20-year-old VFA
Iran says it may pull out of nuclear treaty over Europe dispute
Iran accuses Britain, France, and Germany of inaction over sanctions the United States reimposed on it after unilaterally withdrawing from the landmark accord in 2018
NATO to review Iraq mission after Iran general slain
'The North Atlantic Council will address the situation in the region,' a NATO official says
Greek PM on White House trip amid Turkey tension
US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt says Washington sees Greece as 'a critical pillar of regional stability'
'Brain dead' NATO's summit dominated by leaders' feuds
Meeting outside London to mark the 70th year of the Atlantic alliance, the members vow to stick together against threats from Russia and terrorism and recognize the challenge of a rising China
Squabbles overshadow NATO 70th anniversary summit
The 29 allies descend on London ready to lock horns over spending and how to deal with Russia in a major test of unity as NATO seeks to assert its relevance
U.S. defense chief favors review of 1951 treaty with Philippines
The nearly 70-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US needs to reflect current security threats, including an increasingly powerful China, say both countries' defense secretaries
Putin vows 'symmetric response' to U.S. missile test
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered an analysis of 'the level of threat for our country created by the actions of the US and to take comprehensive measures to prepare a symmetric response'
Russia, China blast U.S. missile test
Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov says, the 'US has obviously taken a course towards escalation of military tensions. We won't react to provocations.'
U.S. tests medium-range cruise missile after exiting INF treaty
The launch is a sign of Washington beefing up its nuclear war-fighting capabilities in the wake of the collapse of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
U.S. Air Force vows ‘no let up’ in South China Sea patrols
General David Goldfein, US Air Force Chief of Staff, restates the US commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines as China pushes to dominate the Indo-Pacific region
Putin urges new arms talks with U.S. to avoid 'chaos'
President Vladimir Putin says that if Russia receives information about US development of new missiles, it 'will be forced to begin the full-scale development of similar missiles'
U.S., Russia rip up Cold War-era INF missile treaty
(UPDATED) Moscow says the deal has been terminated 'at the initiative of the US,' while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Russia is 'solely responsible for the treaty's demise'
Carpio, Del Rosario refute Duterte on invoking defense pact with U.S.
(UPDATED) 'The [Mutual Defense] Treaty operates only for self-defense, not for aggression against another state,' says Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
European Union urges Russia to continue to respect nuclear missile treaty
The European Union says Russia should take 'substantial and transparent actions' to ensure compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Hong Kong leader halts extradition bill but opponents vow fresh rally
(6th UPDATE) Jimmy Sham, from the main protest group the Civil Human Rights Front, says they would push ahead with the planned massive rally on Sunday, June 16
Iran: Exiting nuclear pact one of 'many options' after U.S. sanctions
The country's officials are deliberating different options and measures, including pulling out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, says Iran's foreign minister
NATO plans for Russian 'aggression' on 70th anniversary
At the close of talks in Washington, foreign ministers from the 29-nation alliance say in a joint statement that they face 'an unpredictable and challenging security situation' that includes 'a more aggressive Russia'
NATO anniversary party turns ugly as US rips Germany, Turkey
Hours before foreign ministers from the 29-member Western alliance opens talks in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence delivers a stinging rebuke
U.S. suspends F-35 deliveries to Turkey over Russian arms
US officials have voiced concern that with Turkey in both camps, Russia could obtain F-35 data to improve the accuracy of the S-400 to shoot down Western aircraft
Lorenzana-Locsin clash over Mutual Defense Treaty heats up
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana fears 'being involved in a war that we do not seek and do not want' when the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty kicks in
[OPINION] Moving forward with Philippine-U.S. relations
'It was an imperative for our disruptive northern neighbor to be forewarned of the significance of our mutual defense treaty alliance'
In Pompeo visit, Philippines gets timely assurance from oldest ally
The US assurance that Philippine vessels in the South China Sea are protected by the Mutual Defense Treaty sends a 'strong and clear' signal to Beijing
Pompeo raises importance of free press, rights of 'all Filipinos' with Locsin
'We never forget the importance of human rights, rule of law, transparency, justice wherever it is that we go,' says the visiting US official but refrains from publicly citing specific attacks on free speech and human rights in his host country
Locsin: No need to review PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty
'In vagueness lies the best deterrence,' says Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr of the 68-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty
South China Sea covered by PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty – Pompeo
'Any armed attack on any Philippine forces, aircraft, or public vessels in the South China Sea will trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assures Manila
Putin threatens to target West with new missiles
The longtime Russian leader warns Washington against deploying any new missiles in Europe following the collapse of a key Cold War-era treaty, saying Moscow will consider it a 'serious threat'
Disarmament efforts must include China as well as U.S., Russia – Merkel
According to a new report by the Institute for Strategic Studies, up to 95 percent of China's arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles will be in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty if Beijing were party to it
China opposes U.S. withdrawal from nuclear missile treaty
'China is opposed to the US withdrawal [from the nuclear missile treaty] and urges the US and Russia to properly resolve differences through constructive dialogue," says Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang
NATO door opens for Macedonia
Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov will attend the ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels
U.S. bolts Cold War missile treaty as Russia warns of arms race
(UPDATED) President Donald Trump says the United States was suspending its obligations under the INF Treaty as of Saturday, February 2, and started a process to withdraw in 6 months
Germany says missile treaty dead as Europe frets about arms race
Western capitals say a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the terms of the 1987 treaty and puts European cities at risk
NATO says no progress in Russia talks on arms treaty
'There was no real progress in the meeting today because Russia did not indicate any willingness to change their position,' says NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
Russia wheels out key missile in bid to save U.S. arms treaty
(UPDATED) Russian artillery chief Mikhail Matveevsky says the 9M729 missile's maximum range is 480 kilometers. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty bans missiles with a range above 500 kilometers.
[OPINION] Proposed review of PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty: Opening a Pandora's box
A veritable Pandora’s box of nasty surprises would be opened once the Philippines pushes for renegotiations. Is that what the majority of Filipinos want?
Gloria Arroyo cleared of electoral sabotage in 2007 polls case | Evening wRap
Watch Rappler’s evening newscast with Chito dela Vega
Lorenzana to review Mutual Defense Treaty: 'Is it still relevant to our security?'
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the objective of the review of the treaty is to either 'maintain it, strengthen it, or scrap it'
Russia turns up uninvited to major NATO wargames
Russia has already made clear its displeasure at NATO's Trident Juncture exercises, the largest by the alliance since the end of the Cold War
NATO urges Russia to comply with nuclear treaty
After a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, a statement by the transatlantic alliance says they 'urge Russia... to ensure full compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty without delay'
How World War I shaped the 20th century and beyond
A century after the "war to end all wars," the world lives with the consequences of a peace accord that, even at the time, was criticized as making another war inevitable in Europe
U.S. security chief, Russians in tough talks over nuclear treaty
John Bolton discusses the fate of the treaty with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and spends 'nearly 5 hours' in talks with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev
