Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently held a meeting with the Philippines Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., to discuss joint efforts aimed at reinforcing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. This dialogue followed their earlier encounter in Manila on March 28, 2025, where Secretary Hegseth reiterated the U.S. dedication to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which serves as a cornerstone for the strong U.S.-Philippines Alliance.
During their discussion, Secretary Hegseth praised the Philippines for opposing China's assertive actions that target legitimate Philippine activities in the South China Sea. The two leaders also celebrated the successful completion of Exercise BALIKATAN, described as the largest and most intricate exercise in Alliance history. This exercise enhanced deterrence by allowing both nations to train collaboratively and enabled the United States to deploy advanced capabilities such as the Typhon missile system, Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), and sophisticated unmanned surface vessels.
The Secretaries emphasized partnership and transparency's role in deterring China and pledged ongoing efforts to bolster defense cooperation between their countries.