Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. to discuss steps the two countries are taking together to reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. This conversation built on their meeting in Manila on March 28, 2025, in which Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the bedrock of the ironclad U.S.-Philippines Alliance. The Secretaries discussed how to further enhance Alliance readiness.
Secretary Hegseth commended the Philippines for standing up against China's aggressive actions targeting lawful Philippine activities in the South China Sea. The Secretaries celebrated the recent conclusion of the biggest and most complex Exercise BALIKATAN in Alliance history, which enhanced deterrence by enabling the two countries to train together and for the United States to deploy increasingly advanced capabilities, including the Typhon missile system, the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), and highly capable unmanned surface vessels. The Secretaries noted the importance of partnership and transparency in deterring China and committed to continued progress on strengthening their defense cooperation.