The Department of National Defense on Thursday said the Netherlands has reiterated its proposal to establish naval defense industry cooperation with the Philippines.

This came after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with the Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines, Marielle Geraedts, earlier this week at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro and Geraedts' meeting serves as a "way to advance overall bilateral cooperation" between the Philippines and the Netherlands with the European Union in terms of defense and security.

"Secretary Teodoro proposed greenfield opportunities in various industries, particularly in defense and security, with the Netherlands and the EU," he added.

Geraedts noted the Philippines' adoption of the National Security Policy 2023-2028. Hence, he reiterated the proposal of establishing naval defense industry cooperation with the Philippines to further improve the "strategic and economic advantages in the long term."

According to Andolong, Teodoro has agreed to the Dutch ambassador's proposal.

For his part, Teodoro proposed to develop broader defense cooperation between the Philippines and the Netherlands, "taking into consideration the importance of other areas such as cyber and artificial intelligence, as well as the Netherlands' potential to become a partner in these areas."

During his discussion with the Dutch ambassador, Teodoro shared about the country's recalibration of its defense strategy, including the shift of the internal operations to territorial and external defense.

Andolong added that Teodoro underscored "the development of a credible defense posture that will effectively protect Philippine interests in the country's exclusive economic zone."