Gibo Teodoro hopeful PH-US agreements won't change

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has expressed confidence that the US will honor its commitments to the Philippines regarding defense cooperation even after the US State Department issued a stop-work order on all existing foreign assistance.
Teodoro said there were plans to speak soon with newly confirmed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“We’ll see, but I’m very optimistic that the trajectory of existing agreements will not change,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz assured him that the US commitments to the Philippines would remain steadfast.
The Philippine defense chief met Waltz in January in Washington, D.C. as the Philippines and the US looked 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.
"In our conversation, Mr. Waltz emphasized that the commitment remains the same, and we discussed enhancing existing partnerships," Teodoro said.
The Philippines and the US, under the administrations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former US President Joe Biden, have deepened their defense cooperation aimed at ensuring safe and free navigation in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.
The two countries during the past US administration identified four military facilities in the Philippines that the US forces may access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
The US Defense Department said it was “committed to ensuring its activities around EDCA sites are responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities, and we will continue to consult closely with the Philippines on new opportunities that serve our shared interests.”
The Philippines and the US also engaged Japan in a historic Trilateral Summit followed by subsequent meetings of defense officials laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation. –NB, GMA Integrated News