US, PH reaffirm military alliance

The United States and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to a deepening military alliance aimed at bolstering deterrence and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Teodoro praised Hegseth's active engagement with Southeast Asian counterparts and the Trump administration's commitment to ASEAN and a rules-based international order.

He emphasized that the Philippines seeks a sustainable peace reinforced through alliances with like-minded partners and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth highlighted the strong relationship under the Mutual Defense Treaty, evidenced by recent Balikatan exercises.

Both leaders committed to standing shoulder to shoulder in their pursuit of peace and stability in the region.