Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held separate meetings with his counterparts from the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, and Switzerland as the Philippines moved to deepen defense cooperation with key partners in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The meetings were held on the sidelines of the 23rd International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where defense officials discussed regional security concerns, military cooperation, and efforts to strengthen a rules-based order.
The Department of National Defense said Teodoro’s meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the commitment of Manila and Washington to deepen defense cooperation “in support of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.”
DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro expressed strong support for the US commitment to strengthen partnerships in the region, citing their role in building resilience and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth, for his part, noted the “depth and consistency” of defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US during what Andolong said was their fifth meeting since last year.
The US official also commended the successful conduct of the Balikatan exercises involving troops from the Philippines, the US, and other like-minded countries.
“The US likewise reaffirmed its commitment to support the monitoring of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone and expressed continued support for the Philippines’ defense interests,” Andolong said.
Teodoro also met with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sunday, with both sides agreeing to further strengthen defense cooperation.
In a joint statement, the defense departments of the Philippines and Japan said the two officials discussed issues of mutual concern, including the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and a TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines.
They also welcomed the steady progress in defense cooperation between Manila and Tokyo, including the participation of Japanese forces in the Balikatan exercises.
Teodoro and Koizumi likewise recognized the need to further strengthen defense cooperation between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
On Saturday, Teodoro also held separate meetings with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu Back, Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister.
Andolong said Teodoro’s meeting with Marles focused on advancing bilateral defense collaboration and deepening practical cooperation between the Philippines and Australia in support of shared security interests and regional stability.
The two officials also discussed enhancing collaboration with the US, Japan, and other like-minded nations, while stressing the importance of sustained cooperation to promote peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
In his meeting with Ahn, Teodoro exchanged views on regional security developments and discussed opportunities to expand cooperation, particularly in defense logistics and the defense industry.
With Chan, Teodoro discussed ways to further strengthen defense relations between the Philippines and Singapore, including expanded joint training and exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Singapore Armed Forces to improve interoperability and readiness.
Teodoro and Pfister also exchanged views on regional and global security developments and underscored the need for continued dialogue and cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges.