US and Philippine defense officials reaffirmed their mutual defense treaty and signed a new security agreement during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday. They announced the transfer of a decommissioned US Coast Guard cutter to the Philippine Coast Guard and the signing of a 15-year Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement.
The two sides also welcomed the conclusion of the 41st Exercise Balikatan and noted a joint maritime activity conducted near Panatag Shoal from May 26 to 30. Hegseth and Teodoro reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Teodoro separately addressed the forum on Sunday. He stated that negotiations with China serve as a means of gaining advantage rather than resolving conflict and criticized Beijing for refusing to recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
