13-11-2024 (MANILA) Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has expressed confidence that the incoming Trump administration will maintain strong military support for the Philippines, citing shared strategic interests in countering Beijing’s regional influence.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles in Canberra, Teodoro dismissed concerns about potential demands for increased military support payments, emphasising the longstanding institutional arrangements between the two nations.
“Our partnership is founded on mutual interests and shared threats, particularly regarding China’s aggressive and illegal activities in the region,” Teodoro stated, highlighting the enduring nature of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and other bilateral security agreements.
The Defence Secretary’s remarks come amid growing tensions in the South China Sea, where he accused Beijing of intensifying pressure on Manila to surrender its sovereign rights. “We are direct victims of Chinese aggression,” Teodoro declared, citing increasing instances of harassment by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against Philippine vessels.
These incidents have particularly affected operations around the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Panatag Shoal, despite a 2016 international court ruling rejecting China’s expansive maritime claims.
Philippine diplomatic representatives, including Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, have echoed Teodoro’s optimism about bilateral relations under Trump. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla confirmed that existing defence arrangements would continue regardless of US leadership changes.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson reinforced this position, describing the Philippines and United States as “steadfast friends and ironclad allies” regardless of electoral outcomes.
The press conference, Teodoro’s fifth meeting with his Australian counterpart since August 2023, also highlighted strengthening security ties between Manila and Canberra. Their strategic partnership, established in September 2023, has already yielded joint air and sea patrols in contested waters.
