Nearly 200 Afghan nationals have recently arrived in the United States after having their special immigration visas processed in the Philippines, following a collaboration agreement between the governments of the Philippines and the United States, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
These Afghan individuals departed the Philippines in multiple groups aboard commercial flights last week after successfully completing their resettlement application process. Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay confirmed the details.
In a statement, the embassy expressed its gratitude to the Philippine government for its assistance and support in helping Afghan special immigrants. The group, which included many children, landed in the Philippines on January 6. U.S. and Philippine officials have kept specific details regarding their numbers and where they were held confidential. The United States covered the expenses for their accommodation in the Philippines.
The majority of the Afghans were individuals who worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or were eligible for special immigrant visas. Many of them were unable to leave upon the exit of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan, which occurred after two decades of military engagement in August 2021, when the Taliban took control.
The Taliban’s ascension to power put Afghan supporters of U.S. forces at risk of retaliation from the new regime. Discussions regarding the resettlement of Afghans took place between President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Biden’s visit to the United States last year, as per reports from Philippine officials.
In July, the Philippines consented to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for Afghan nationals, despite some concerns about security risks linked to the threats faced by Afghans escaping Taliban rule. A high-ranking Philippine official commented last year that this arrangement was intended to be a one-time opportunity.
Since assuming office in 2022, Marcos has strengthened ties with the U.S. and permitted an expansion of American military presence in accordance with a 2014 defense agreement, a move that has raised concerns in China. Furthermore, the Marcos administration has worked to enhance military and defense relationships with countries such as Japan and Australia, while also seeking to develop stronger security associations with France, New Zealand, and Canada to fortify its territorial defense, especially in the disputed South China Sea.
This strategy aligns with the Biden administration’s goal of reinforcing a network of security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to effectively address worries regarding China’s escalating aggressiveness, especially concerning tensions in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait, which have reached unprecedented levels in recent decades.
