US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. that joint military exercises, such as Balikatan, will continue under the Trump administration. Hegseth highlighted the importance of deterring aggression in the South China Sea and strengthening the Philippine Armed Forces. While the continuation of US$500 million Foreign Military Financing for modernization is yet to be confirmed, the US reaffirmed its commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
File photo: Philippine Marines maneuver their amphibious assault vehicle at a Balikatan military exercise on the beaches of Claveria, Cagayan, March 31, 2022.
This assurance was conveyed by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his introductory call with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday. “They also discussed enhancing the capability and capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Pentagon Spokesman John Ullyot said. Navies and air force units of the Philippines, US, Australia and Japan held another multilateral maritime cooperative activity within the Philippine exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
BALIKATAN SOUTH CHINASEA MILITARYEXERCISES US-PHILIPPINES RELATIONS FOREIGN MILITARYFINANCING
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