MANILA, Philippines – US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. spoke about the “importance of reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea” in their first call, the Pentagon announced Thursday, February 6.
Hegseth was confirmed on January 25 as US President Donald Trump’s top defense official. Teodoro had earlier met with Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
“The leaders discussed the importance of reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea, including by working with allies and partners. They also discussed enhancing the capability and capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Pentagon Spokesman John Ullyot said in a press statement.
The US and the Philippines have strong, long-standing ties — especially in politics, trade, and defense. Under the Joe Biden administration, the Philippines hosted two of the “biggest” Balikatan or joint military exercises between the two countries.
The two countries also added four new sites to the list of Philippine military facilities where the US could preposition their assets — particularly in areas facing the West Philippine Sea, Taiwan, and key sea lanes.
It was also under Biden that the US pledged $500 million in foreign military financing (FNF) that’s meant to help the military and even the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) “to fulfill their territorial defense mission and contribute to regional security.”
“The Secretary reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and its importance for maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. He pledged to remain in close coordination with Secretary Teodoro,” said Ullyot.
It was during the first Trump presidency that the US first confirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries would apply to attacks on Filipino vessels in the South China Sea.
US rival superpower China claims most of the South China Sea, including parts that are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). That claim — and their insistence on their sovereignty — has meant maritime and even aerial harassment of Filipino military or coast guard personnel in an area Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com