(Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Defense via the department’s website)
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III hosted an enhanced honor cordon and meeting to welcome Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Pentagon on April 12.
Austin underscored the ironclad commitment of the U.S. to its alliance with the Philippines, referencing U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks at the White House during the first trilateral United States-Philippines-Japan leaders’ summit on April 11.
He reiterated that the U.S. commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.
Citing both nations’ forces have extended their operation coodination on land, at sea, and in the air, Austin explained, “This level of cooperation is critical to our collective security and to peace and prosperity across the region.”
Austin noted the U.S. President’s fiscal year 2025 budget request seeks USD128 million to fund 36 infrastructure projects on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the Philippines, more than double the amount the U.S. has previously invested at EDCA sites.
For his part, President Marcos said while the Philippines has always been able to look to the United States for support, increased cooperation between the two governments and militaries should continue.
Earlier, following the trilateral leaders’ summit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Defense Secretary Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Año in Washington, DC.
The parties reaffirmed their shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to deepen coordination regarding shared challenges in the South China Sea, including the alleged repeated harassment of lawful Philippine operations by the People’s Republic of China.
They also underscored their determination to increase U.S. support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to improve interoperability and to achieve shared security objectives.
They further agreed to explore additional opportunities to strengthen global support for upholding the international law of the sea.
