The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to their longstanding defense alliance as the two countries marked the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday, May 30, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, where both officials discussed efforts to strengthen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Teodoro expressed support for Washington’s efforts to reinforce partnerships in the region, saying the Philippines has seen the strength of US alliances and their role in building resilience and deterrence.
Hegseth noted that the meeting was his fifth engagement with Teodoro, reflecting the sustained defense coordination between Manila and Washington.
He also cited the recent Balikatan Exercise as the largest iteration so far, describing it as proof of the growing interoperability and readiness of the two countries’ armed forces.
The United States also reaffirmed its support for monitoring the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and for advancing the country’s defense interests.
During the meeting, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command renewed the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement for another 15 years, reinforcing cooperation in information, communications, and cyber security.
Teodoro also invited Hegseth to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, saying the event would provide another platform to deepen engagement with the Philippines and other regional defense counterparts.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to stronger defense cooperation in support of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.