‘Renewed commitment’: PH defense chief Teodoro meets Trump’s National Security Adviser

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PH defense chief Teodoro meets Trump’s National Security Adviser

PH-US TIES. Newly appointed US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. met on 22 January 2025 (US Time) at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to reaffirm PH-US defense and security ties.

Department of National Defense

The Philippine DND says the meeting shows a 'renewed commitment to collaboration under the Trump administration'

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr met with newly appointed United States National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the White House on Thursday, January 23 (January 22 in Washington), to reaffirm the “enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States,” according to a release from the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND).

Teodoro was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and was done with Waltz’ Filipino counterpart, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año.

His meeting with Waltz comes barely a day after Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo spoke to newly-confirmed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call. “The Philippines, represented by Secretary Teodoro, is among the first countries to engage with the new US administration to discuss critical security matters,” noted the DND in its release.

According to the DND, Teodoro emphasized “the shared commitment to peace, stability, and mutual security interests in the region” and “highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral defense ties in addressing emerging geopolitical challenges.”

The DND said Waltz “expressed his appreciation of President Marcos’ efforts to uphold freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order.”

Teodoro also met with other American security officials, including Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Byers, and NSC Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy.

“This engagement marked a significant step in further advancing the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and the United States, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration under the Trump administration. Both sides expressed optimism about deepening defense and security cooperation in the years ahead,” said the DND.

The two countries are treaty allies, bound by a Mutual Defense Treaty. The US, once the Philippines’ colonizer, is now among its most important partners especially in the arena of security and defense.

Philippine and US troops regularly train together, whether it be through exercises on Philippine soil or in maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea. The US, under former president Joe Biden, promised $500 million in foreign military financing.

It’s a relationship that’s become even more important as China becomes more aggressive in claiming most of the South China Sea, especially areas that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The US and the Philippines regularly conduct joint maritime exercises, called Maritime Cooperative Activities — in the Philippines’ EEZ.