Philippines, South Korea hold defense talks to deepen cooperation

MANILA, September 11 ------ The Philippines and South Korea held bilateral defense talks as the two Asian democracies seek to strengthen cooperation amid shared regional security challenges.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with Minister Ahn Gyu-Back of the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue. The two sides discussed enhancing collaboration in logistics, technology exchange, and defense industry cooperation under the framework of the 2015 PH-ROK Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Defense.

The meeting also underscored the enduring defense partnership between the two countries, with Teodoro recalling the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers during the Korean War—reinforced this year by the commemoration of its 75th anniversary. Both officials highlighted cultural and educational exchanges, as well as people-to-people ties, as essential pillars of the bilateral relationship. “Being here in Seoul, we are reminded of the fragility of peace, our collective responsibility to keep it alive, and the danger of major powers carving up the world into spheres of influence, as was just announced in a neighboring country, where there was a call for the reshaping of the international order into a multipolar transactional one,” Teodoro said in his remarks during the 75th anniversary commemoration of the United Nations Command also held in Seoul. “Therefore, we continue to stand with South Korea in maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia and upholding a multilateral and not a multipolar global order,” he added.

Teodoro also extended an official invitation to Ahn to visit the Philippines, reaffirming Manila’s commitment to advancing defense cooperation, strengthening regional security, and sustaining strategic engagement with its long-standing partner.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com