The Philippines Supreme Court approved a landmark defense cooperation deal with the United States on Tuesday, paving the way for US forces to deploy to an array of bases throughout the country.

Dozens of anti-US activists held protests outside the court denouncing the deal as an agreement that would make the Philippines a launchpad for military intervention in the region.

Yet the court voted 10-4 to deny a petition of some lawmakers and activists to declare the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement unconstitutional because it surrendered Philippine sovereignty to a foreign power.