“I want to reaffirm the United States’s enduring commitment to the Philippines and our shared vision for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
This was the statement of United States Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton following Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to Cebu for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.
According to Ambassador Lipton, Secretary Hegseth’s leadership of the Department of War and his frequent engagements with Southeast Asian partners demonstrate the Trump administration’s determination to strengthen alliances, deepen regional cooperation, and ensure that peace is backed by strength.
Lipton added Hegseth’s visit underscores the genuine importance the United States places on Southeast Asia and on the extraordinary alliance with the Philippines.
“Our commitment to Philippine security is ironclad,” the ambassador stressed. “With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the United States and the Philippines have built a powerful partnership grounded in shared principles, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to regional stability. That partnership is demonstrated every year through hundreds of joint exercises and training events, hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. security assistance, expanded maritime cooperative activities, disaster response support, public health assistance, and frequent engagements between our senior defense and security leaders. We’re in this for the long-term.”
According to Lipton, the alliance is stronger than ever since the signing of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty 75 years ago. “We stand firmly with the Filipino people in defending sovereignty, protecting territorial integrity, and upholding the freedom of navigation on which we all rely for vibrant global commerce.”
Lipton explained the security partnership must be matched by an equally strong economic partnership. He cited the United States supports the Philippines’ economic development and believes reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade is essential to shared prosperity.
“The United States is proud to call the Philippines an ally, partner, and friend. Our relationship is not simply a matter of treaties or shared strategic interests; it is a bond between our peoples that grows stronger every day,” he said, in closing.
