The Mutual Defence Treaty, imposed upon the Philippines by the USA after WWII, has had the effect of tying the Philippines to USA foreign policy and interests instead of allowing it to strengthen its independent position in international negotiations. Effectively, the Philippines can be brought into any US conflict but not vice versa. It also means that while the Philippines is being used as a USA outpost over the trade lanes in the Southeast Asia -- Pacific region, as well as serving as a link in the US defence chain, it is probably ineligible to be a member of the non-aligned states as it would wish.