MANILA — The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed their “ironclad alliance” following a high-level bilateral meeting between top defense officials on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30, the Department of National Defense (DND) said.

The meeting between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took place as both countries marked the 75th anniversary of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty signed on August 30, 1951.

“Secretary Teodoro congratulated Secretary Hegseth on his plenary address delivered earlier in the day and underscored the Philippines’ strong support for the US’ commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Secretary Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines stands as a witness to the robustness of US partnerships in the region, noting that such efforts contribute to greater resilience and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” the DND said.

Hegseth, for his part, noted that the meeting was their fifth engagement, underscoring what he described as the depth of defense cooperation between the two countries.

“He also commended the successful conduct of the recent ‘Balikatan’ Exercise, noting it as the largest iteration to date and a testament to the growing interoperability and readiness of both armed forces. The US likewise reaffirmed its commitment to support the monitoring of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and expressed continued support for the Philippines’ defense interests,” the DND added.

The Philippines and the US also renewed the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) for another 15 years through the Armed Forces of the Philippines and US Indo-Pacific Command, strengthening cooperation in information, communications, and cyber security.

Teodoro also extended an invitation to Hegseth to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, which the DND said could further deepen engagement with regional defense counterparts.

The meeting reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.”

In a separate engagement, Teodoro met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, where both sides discussed strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and expanding practical collaboration.

“The meeting focused on advancing bilateral defense collaboration and deepening practical cooperation between the Philippines and Australia in support of shared security interests and regional stability,” the DND said.

Teodoro and Marles also discussed working with like-minded partners such as Japan and the United States to support a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

Teodoro also held separate meetings with defense counterparts from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore.

In his meeting with ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyuback, Teodoro thanked Seoul for its continued support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program. Both sides also discussed defense logistics, defense industry cooperation, and regional security developments, including the Korean Peninsula and the West Philippine Sea.

The DND said both countries also highlighted historical ties dating back to the Korean War and explored further cooperation through future engagements such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Seoul Defense Dialogue.

Teodoro also met Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, where they discussed expanded joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response cooperation.

Chan expressed support for the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship, while Teodoro thanked Singapore for hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue.

The defense chief also presented the Philippines as a potential “hub for convergence among like-minded partners,” emphasizing its role in maintaining maritime freedom and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to the DND.