据报道，美国正与菲律宾商讨一项协议，增加美国在这个太平洋岛国的驻军。据《华盛顿邮报》星期四援引两国政府官员的话说，谈判还处于初期阶段，但双 方都倾向于达成协议。《华盛顿邮报》说，双方将考虑在菲律宾驻扎美国海军军舰，定期轮换部署军队，以及更加频繁地举行联合军事演习。但预计协议不会涉及建 立美军自己的军事基地。
  
目前大约有600名美国特种部队军人驻扎在菲律宾，为当地军队跟与基地组织有联系的反政府力量作战提供咨询。 1992年，由于菲律宾国会未能达成延长美国驻军的协议，美军被迫从一个大型海军基地撤出。这份报道援引一名未透露姓名的菲律宾官员的话说，他们的当务之 急是加强海上防务，尤其是在自然资源丰富的南中国海。

The United States is reportedly negotiating a deal with the Philippines to expand the U.S. military presence in the Pacific island nation. The Washington Post Thursday quoted officials from both governments as saying the negotiations are in the early stages, but that both sides are favorably inclined to a deal. The paper said the two sides are considering operating U.S. Navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. But the deal is not expected to involve the creation of any U.S.-only military bases.
  
About 600 U.S. special operation troops are currently stationed in the Philippines to advise local forces in their fight with al-Qaida-linked rebels. U.S. forces were tossed out of a large naval base in the country in 1992 when lawmakers failed to reach a deal to extend their stay. The report quotes unnamed Philippine officials as saying their priority is to strengthen maritime defenses, especially near the resource-rich South China Sea.