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PH, US security officials signal 'commitment to collaboration' amid Trump's return


PH, US security officials signal 'commitment to collaboration' amid Trump's return

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. as the Philippines and the United States aim to further advance their defense ties.

The Department of National Defense said the meeting happened at the White House two days after Donald Trump returned to power.

Teodoro also met with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Byers, and NSC Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy.

''The Philippines, represented by Secretary Teodoro, is among the first countries to engage with the new U.S. administration to discuss critical security matters,'' the DND said in a press release on Thursday.

“NSA Waltz and his team underscored the need to enhance cooperation with the Philippines and looked forward to increasing mutual security activities in support of a free and global Indo-Pacific, an initiative dating back to Trump’s first presidency,” it added.

The DND said the meeting ''marked a significant step in further advancing the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and the United States, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration under the Trump administration.''

“Both sides expressed optimism about deepening defense and security cooperation in the years ahead,'' it said.

The US has been the Philippines’ longtime ally, especially in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have been vocal against China's aggression in the South China Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier discussed the importance of the alliance between Manila and Washington.

Rubio underscored the importance of the United States’ “ironclad commitments” to the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which binds both countries to come to each other’s aid during an attack. — VBL, GMA Integrated News