United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s unwavering support for its alliance with the Philippines during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila on Friday.
During the talks, Hegseth emphasized the enduring importance of the mutual defense treaty signed by the two countries in 1951. “I had a chance to speak just a few minutes ago to our president, President Trump, who sends his regards to you as well, thinks very fondly of this great country, is very committed to the alliance that we have, to the friendship that we have, the cooperation that we have,” he told Marcos.
He and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the mutual defense treaty and to the partnership, economically, militarily, which our staffs have worked on diligently for weeks and weeks and months,” Hegseth added.
The visit marked the first official trip to the Philippines by a senior Trump administration official and is part of Hegseth’s broader Indo-Pacific tour focused on advancing regional defense ties.
Hegseth highlighted the importance of strengthening military cooperation with Manila, describing it as “mutually beneficial” and “critically important” for both countries.
Addressing the situation in the South China Sea, Hegseth emphasized the need for deterrence and collective strength in the region, citing “threats from the Communist Chinese” and underscoring that “peace through strength is a very real thing.”
Marcos called Hegseth’s visit symbolic of a renewed commitment between the two allies to uphold peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. He referred to the current geopolitical environment as “complicated” but said the two countries shared a clear roadmap for future cooperation.
Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1946, and today, their cooperation is anchored in longstanding agreements like the mutual defense treaty, a visiting forces agreement, and an enhanced defense cooperation agreement.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/us-vows-ironclad-support-to-philippines-eyes-china/a-72065749?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
