More than 100 days since February 28, when US imperialism and the Zionist state of Israel launched an invasion and weeks-long bombing of Iran, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 after complicated negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. The understanding sets out a 60-day “ceasefire” to discuss the details of a future final agreement.

The US entered this agreement after failing to force Iran to surrender its oil and sovereignty and submit to its dictates. Despite superior military strength and its madman president’s repeated declarations of victory, the US was forced to temporarily restrain its aggression against Iran amid deep political rifts within its ruling class and strong public outrage over continuously rising oil prices.

The agreement also proves that a smaller and weaker sovereign country can defend its independence against a more powerful imperialist. Iran remained determined to defend its independence despite relentless bombing by the US and Israel. Contrary to the hopes of Trump and Netanyahu that the people would rise against their government, the whole of Iran united under the banner of national defense. Millions took to the streets to collectively denounce US imperialist aggression.

The signed agreement remains unstable. Trump continues to provoke, declaring that he will “return to war” and “drop bombs on their heads” if his demands are not met in the agreement. Israel’s bombing and seizure of territory in Lebanon continue unabated. Around 20 US military bases remain in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iraq, surrounding Iran.

While the US has temporarily restrained its aggression against Iran, it continues to intensify its interference in Latin America. After invading Venezuela and abducting its president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, it relentlessly pressures the Venezuelan government to follow US dictates and serve the interests of big American capitalists, especially major oil corporations.

It uses the “war on narcotics” pretext to justify its interference and threats against Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, and other countries. It continues bombing small vessels in the Caribbean despite having no proof of their involvement in drugs. It continues to pressure and threaten Cuba to dismantle state control and planning of the economy, and open it to foreign big banks and capitalists. It incites the Bolivian government to suppress weeks-long marches and uprisings of millions of workers against the puppet government and its plans to surrender the country’s resources to the US. It directly intervenes to ensure the victory of its pro-US candidate in Colombia.

The US continues deploying tens of thousands of troops, weapons, war equipment, and naval forces in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries to “encircle” and “contain the rise” of China. It goads and supports Japan’s shift toward militarism and abandonment of its pacifist constitution, which has been met with widespread protests. It also incites Taiwan to strengthen its military and prepare “against aggression.”

The US continues to strengthen its control and domination over the Philippines. It conducts successive and overlapping military exercises, no longer limited to northern Luzon but also across the Visayas and Mindanao. Prodded by the US, the AFP is conducting so-called “territorial defense exercises” across various islands to mask the maneuver rehearsals of American troops throughout the country. The US is beginning to build a fuel depot in Davao Gulf and facilities in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro for the repair and docking of its naval ships.

Under the cover of the Salaknib Exercises, Kasangga, and similar activities, the US military intervenes in counterguerrilla operations in the country through training, funding, and arming the AFP in its war against the New People’s Army. In Camarines Sur, American and Australian troops were seen participating in AFP operations against peasant masses in villages.

The US is aggressively pushing the construction of a 1,200-hectare “economic security zone” in Central Luzon under the framework of Pax Silica. This forms part of the US scheme to seize exclusive control over key sources of critical minerals needed for producing technology for its weapons of war.

Amid US imperialism’s continuing military and economic aggression, the Filipino people must continuously strengthen and expand their unity to assert national sovereignty and resist dragging the Philippines into US instigated wars. The Marcos puppet regime must be denounced and opposed, especially its military and defense officials who are agents of US imperialism and foremost traitors to the nation. They blindly follow the dictates of their American master and collude in the expansion of US military forces in the Philippines at the expense of the people’s livelihood, safety, and the country’s freedom.

Continue intensifying mass struggles against growing US military presence in the Philippines. Strengthen educational, propaganda, and cultural movements to rouse the Filipino people, who are continuously blinded to the reality of US imperialist domination and oppression in the country. Broaden people’s actions against US military bases and facilities, unequal military agreements, war exercises, the presence of American troops, and stockpiled US military equipment in the country.

Strengthen recruitment to the New People’s Army as the principal weapon of the Filipino people in fighting US imperialist oppression in the country. History has shown that genuine national freedom is achieved through the path of armed revolution. Until the Philippines has not truly broken free from the grip of US imperialism, the Filipino people will continue armed resistance to achieve the nation’s long-sought liberation.