US Reaffirms 'Ironclad' Commitment to Philippines Alliance

During his first Asia-Pacific tour, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the 'ironclad' commitment of the U.S. to their alliance, particularly amid ongoing maritime tensions with China. Hegseth emphasized the importance of deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and conveyed President Trump’s fondness for the Philippines and commitment to deepening military and economic partnerships. Their discussions included reaffirming the Mutual Defense Treaty, highlighting the shared goal of ensuring free navigation in contested waters. Marcos expressed optimism about the visit's potential to strengthen cooperation in light of complex geopolitical challenges. Hegseth's visit, seen as a reaffirmation of U.S. support, included meetings with key Philippine defense leaders to discuss security objectives. The U.S. remains the Philippines' oldest treaty ally, with robust defense engagement frameworks in place.