Acting Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Charles E. Summers Jr. provided the following readout:
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines and to discuss bilateral issues in the relationship.
The two leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues and mutual steps to strengthen the alliance. They agreed on the need to increase interoperability between our respective militaries, through exercises, training, and U.S. support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' modernization plans. Secretary Shanahan and Secretary Lorenzana affirmed their common commitment to fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia.
Secretary Shanahan thanked Secretary Lorenzana for his continued support to the alliance, and for his role in advancing our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.