The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their steadfast alliance during a bilateral meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasizing their shared commitment to peace and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed expanding military cooperation, reinforcing mutual defense ties, and upholding a rules-based international order.
Teodoro stressed that the Philippines aims for “sustainable peace” built on national resilience and strengthened through alliances. Hegseth praised the Philippines for its firm stance in the South China Sea and reaffirmed U.S. support: “We stand shoulder to shoulder in our pursuit of peace and stability.”
The defense chiefs referenced the recent Balikatan military exercises involving 14,000 troops—the largest in years—as a reflection of the “ironclad” relationship under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Teodoro also met with U.S. lawmakers including members of the House and Senate, receiving assurances of continued bipartisan support. He emphasized the importance of America’s visible global leadership and proposed future collaboration on joint oil and gas exploration.
The Philippines, he affirmed, has no plans to alter its security alliance posture.