DND optimistic of continued growth of PH-US defense ties
Philippine News Agency
By Priam Nepomuceno
January 29, 2025, 4:51 pm
MANILA -- The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday expressed optimism that the defense alliance between the Philippines and the United States will further grow under the administration of President Donald J. Trump.
"The DND is likewise optimistic that the Philippine-US defense alliance will continue to flourish under the new administration," it added in a statement.
In a recent interview with Hoover Institution's "Battlegrounds" DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said "the partnership between allies (Philippines and US) that the President has personally spearheaded has been vital."
In the same interview, Teodoro said he expects this momentum to continue as the country's security relationship with the United States and other allies continues to evolve.
"My expectation is that the momentum that is existing at present [will] be continued because we are not only strengthening a relationship but evolving a new ecosystem of security, not only bilaterally but also multilaterally with other countries with shared values like Japan, like Australia," the DND chief said.
During a consultation between Teodoro and the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, the Filipino diplomat expressed confidence "that US military assistance will continue including major economic programs. The 90-day suspension is temporary."
"While the review of US assistance is being conducted, the DND and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) continue to pursue the development of our defense capabilities in accordance with our identified needs and priorities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to perform our mandate to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction," the DND noted. (PNA)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
