MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the US have agreed to boost their defense cooperation to ensure a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
The commitment was made during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s meeting with US Undersecretary of War for Policy Eldridge Colby and his delegation in New York on Monday.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos and US defense officials discussed efforts aimed at accelerating the two countries' defense partnership amid growing security challenges in the region. "The meeting focused on strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and improving interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States military through joint operations such as Exercise Balikatan, which will begin next month," the PCO said. "Both sides also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to continue working together for a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region," it added.
