Washington: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and discussed shared security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as recent advances in the long-standing US-Philippines alliance. According to Kuwait News Agency, a statement by the US Defense department quoted the US Secretary as saying, "our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today." He emphasized the importance of the mutual defense treaty, which extends to armed attacks on US and Philippine armed forces, aircraft, or public vessels, including the Coast Guard, in the Pacific, especially the South China Sea. The US has identified the Asia-Pacific region as its priority, and Hegseth expressed the country's willingness to collaborate with the Philippines and other nations to advance former President Donald J. Trump's peace through strength agenda. Hegseth reite rated the US's commitment to achieving peace through strength and its readiness to work with nations sharing this goal in the region. He highlighted the Philippines' strategic position in the South China Sea, making it an ideal partner. The US supports the Philippines' efforts to modernize its armed forces and collective defense, contributing to the mutual economic vitality of both nations. The success of the recent Balikatan military exercise, involving the Philippines, the US, and more than 20 other nations, was noted as a testament to the strengthening of real deterrence and a free and open Asia-Pacific region. Balikatan 2025 was the 40th iteration of the annual exercise, involving over 14,000 participants and assessing readiness across various domains, such as air, land, sea, cyber, information, and space. Hegseth also highlighted additional collaborative efforts, including the deployment of new cutting-edge missiles and unmanned systems, and the revitalization of defense industrial bases. He emphasized the importance of forging a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring long-term security and prosperity for both nations. President Marcos expressed the value of the Balikatan exercise, citing positive feedback from the Philippine military personnel involved. He praised the joint operations with American forces and other nations in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, including Australia and Canada. Marcos expressed satisfaction with the ongoing modernization of the Philippine military and the strengthened alliance with the US, underscoring its role in preserving peace and stability in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
