12 May 2014 – General Emmanuel Bautista, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, delivered a presentation on “Security Policy and Strategic Situation in the Southeast Asian Region” at the prestigious German Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr) on May 8, upon the invitation of Major General Achim Lidsba, Commandant of the academy.

Speaking before experienced military officers, including foreign students, of the Führungsakademie, General Bautista also explained the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea/ South China Sea.  

The Philippines and Germany have recently reinvigorated defense relations and revived cooperation in military training. Bilateral defense consultations took place in Manila in February 2013. Another round of bilateral talks will also take place in Germany this quarter. Germany has also offered several slots for Filipino officers to undergo short training courses in Germany, including for the United Nations Military Observer Course, and also for the command and general staff officer training courses at the Führungsakademie.

As early as 1974, an Administrative Agreement Between the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of the National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany Minister of Defense Concerning the Training of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Federal Republic of Germany was signed in Manila. Several Filipino officers have taken part in training courses at the Führungsakademie under this agreement.

The Führungsakademie is the highest military training institution of the Bundeswehr, which is the unified armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. More than 600 students, including foreign officers from around 50 countries, attend training at the academy at any given time. The academy has become, in recent years, more and more of a forum for discussing security and military policy.

While in Hamburg, General Bautista also visited the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and met with ITLOS President Shunji Yanai.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe R. Natividad accompanied General Bautista in his speaking engagement at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr and at the meeting in the ITLOS. She was assisted by Third Secretary Azela Arumpac and Attaché Generosa Balocating. Completing General Bautista’s delegation from the Philippines are Lt. Col. Francisco Felicidario III, Major Joe Kindipan, and Captain Julie Galido.  END