Teodoro, ASEAN leaders reaffirm security ties with US

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. joined several defense ministers and senior officials from the United States and Southeast Asian nations in reaffirming their commitments to regional peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said the commitment was made during a United States–Southeast Asia Defense Ministerial Meeting held ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue’s official opening on Friday, 30 May.

According to the DND, the agenda focused on deepening defense cooperation and addressing shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber threats, and disaster response.

“In his intervention, Secretary Teodoro welcomed the opportunity to engage with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and fellow defense leaders from the region, and extended special recognition to Minister Chan of Singapore, whom he had a bilateral meeting with earlier in the afternoon,” it added.

In his remarks, Teodoro emphasized the strategic importance of U.S. participation in the meeting, especially in light of the growing challenges to the rules-based international order.

“Sustained US leadership is crucial, especially for the smaller states of Southeast Asia,” Teodoro said.

Reflecting on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statements at last year’s ASEAN-U.S. Summit, Teodoro highlighted the United States’ “reliable and active presence” as a vital contributor to peace, security, and stability in the region.

He also expressed optimism about the growing ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in enhancing collaboration on maritime security, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and capacity-building efforts.

“The United States is both a longstanding ally of the Philippines and a reliable friend of ASEAN,” he said.

Teodoro further expressed his intent to deepen engagement with fellow defense ministers at the upcoming ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus sessions scheduled for November.