The Philippines and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen defense cooperation as both countries renewed their memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation under their enhanced strategic partnership.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the renewed agreement sends a strong message of unity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and reflects the shared commitment of Manila and Hanoi to uphold peace, security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
“As we know, our bilateral relations with our enhanced strategic partnership are very strong, and the renewal today of our MOU on defense cooperation sends a signal to the rest of the world,” Teodoro said in his opening statement.
He said the agreement shows that “in ASEAN, we are strong and solid,” and that both the Filipino and Vietnamese people remain committed to the “struggle for peace, stability, security” while respecting sovereign rights and territorial integrity.
Teodoro also thanked Vietnam for its cooperation during times of need, adding that the two countries would discuss ways to further strengthen defense partnerships, including disaster response.
“We will discuss later the ways we can enhance our defense partnerships and come to each other’s aid since we are both beset in this part of the world by typhoons,” he said.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang welcomed the continuing improvement in defense relations between the two countries, noting that other ministers had also spoken positively about Philippine-Vietnam defense cooperation.
“I was sitting with other ministers, and they are also talking about very good things about the defense cooperation between the two sides,” Phan said.
Teodoro also cited the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, where he said the remarks of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm reflected aspirations shared by the Philippines.
“With President Marcos’ speech two years ago and President Tô Lâm’s speech this year in the Shangri-La Dialogue, it provides a framework of mutual cooperation and regional cooperation, first between Vietnam and the Philippines and between our two countries and ASEAN,” Teodoro said.
Phan said the Philippines and Vietnam share many similarities, particularly as agricultural countries with deep dependence on rice production and rural development.
“We can see that there are many similarities between the two countries. And we have also supported each other in the multilateral and bilateral forum,” he said.
He expressed hope that both countries would continue supporting each other in regional and international platforms.
Teodoro assured his Vietnamese counterpart of the Philippines’ support for shared interests and said he hopes to visit Vietnam soon.
Phan, in turn, said he looked forward to receiving Teodoro in Vietnam and invited Philippine businesses to participate in Vietnam’s Defense Expo later this year.
The exchange came during President Tô Lâm’s state visit to the Philippines at the invitation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.