PH, US mark 75th mutual defense treaty anniversary amid rising tension in the Indo-Pacific

The Philippines has reaffirmed its long-standing alliance with the United States as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of their Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. congratulated U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his plenary address at the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday.

Hegseth underscored the Philippines’ strong support for the US commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

He also commended the successful conduct of the recent Balikatan Exercise, where more than 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and partner nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand, joined.

Hegseth said the Balikatan Exercise is a testament to the growing interoperability and readiness of both armed forces.

The drills were conducted across various parts of the Philippines, from Luzon to Mindanao, and covered multiple domains such as air and missile defense, maritime security, live-fire exercises, and joint readiness operations.

Hegseth also reaffirmed US’ commitment to support the monitoring of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and expressed continued support for the Philippines’ defense interests.

Meanwhile, Teodoro said the Philippines highlights the strength of U.S. partnerships in the region, saying they help boost resilience and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines and US also renewed the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) for another 15 years, which streamlines secure information sharing, particularly on communications and cybersecurity.

Teodoro also invited Hegseth to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus, where they can strengthen engagement not only with the Philippines but also with defense counterparts.

The meeting reaffirmed the Philippines and the United States’ shared commitment to deepening defense cooperation in support of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

In the same Shangri-La Dialogue, Japan Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi expressed his intention to further strengthen the bilateral defense relations with the Philippines under the “Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership.”

In response, Teodoro said the Philippines plans to continue close coordination based on the trust between the two countries under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”

Following the May 28 summit, the two leaders agreed to speed up talks between their defense authorities on transferring the decommissioned Abukuma class destroyer escorts and TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines.

Both countries also agreed that detailed discussions for the transfer should continue through the working group.

These discussions will cover training for the Philippine Navy, maintenance and support, proper management of the equipment after transfer, and broader defense cooperation, including information sharing.

Like the US, Japan also welcomed the successful conduct of the recent Balikatan Exercise.

Teodoro and Koizumi also agreed that defense cooperation between Japan and ASEAN should be strengthened further. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News