REUTERS

THE Philippines and the European Union (EU) will create a security and defense dialogue, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo said on Monday, following his meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President (HRVP) Kaja Kallas.

“This dialogue will provide a mechanism for the Philippines and the EU to discuss security and defense related issues with both depth and regularity,” Mr. Manalo said in a joint news briefing.

He said the dialogue, which he considered a “significant milestone,” is expected to address concerns regarding emerging security threats that transcend borders, cyber-attacks, and foreign interference and manipulation of information.

Ms. Kallas added the defense dialogue will deepen collaboration between the country and the EU, allowing the exchange of expertise in security and defense, and exploration of joint initiatives that contribute to regional and global security.

“Our work will be comprehensive and will include maritime security, cyber security, counter terrorism and more,” she added.

Ms. Kallas said that the EU has remained committed in upholding the rules-based order, promoting peace, and addressing concerns in the South China Sea and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“We reject any unilateral changes to the status quo, including use of coercion,” Ms. Kallas said when asked what the EU’s red lines are when it comes to China’s activities in areas like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The Philippines has been strengthening relations with more foreign powers amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, as Beijing’s coast guard ships assert its claim over areas that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s map, which a United Nations-backed arbitration court in The Hague voided in 2016 for being illegal.

Moreover, Mr. Manalo said that the Philippines continues to push for deeper economic and trade activities with the EU.

“I emphasized the importance deepening our economic ties as we pursue greater collaboration in trade and investment through the conclusion of the Philippine-EU free trade agreement,” he added.

Ms. Kallas said that the EU and the Philippines are already enhancing their cooperation in digital connectivity, people-to-people contact, and green economy.

“We will move forward with the next round of negotiations of a free trade agreement,” she added.

The Philippines and the EU are currently negotiating a potential free-trade agreement which could boost trade and economic bilateral ties.

JOINT DRILLS
Manila’s Defense chief also met with his Japanese and European counterparts on Sunday, discussing ways to strengthen security cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions in Europe and the South China Sea.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. held separate bilateral talks with his counterparts from Japan, the Netherlands, and Ukraine at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a high-profile security summit attended by top officials from around the world, according to the Defense department.

The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their desire for deeper military involvement in multinational military exercises held in the Southeast Asian nation, such as the vaunted Exercise Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder), it said.

“Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani… reaffirmed Japan’s desire for deeper involvement in joint exercises like Balikatan and Kamandag, upon the entry into force of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA),” the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement.

Manila and Tokyo signed the military agreement in July, allowing the entry of military equipment and troops for combat training from Japan.

The agreement is the first of its kind to be signed by Japan in Asia and coincides with Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, where Beijing’s expansive claims conflict with those of several Southeast Asian nations.

“Both sides agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation in defense equipment production, which they recognized as mutually beneficial,” the DND said.

“Secretary Teodoro also emphasized the need for sustained bilateral and multilateral dialogues to deter actions that undermine regional peace, and called for stronger alliances rooted in shared principles,” it added.

In a separate meeting, Mr. Teodoro and Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans on Sunday expressed interest in possible joint military activities in the future. “Both officials extended invitations for future visits, maintaining their intent to broaden defense engagement and cooperation,” the DND said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Teodoro expressed his admiration to Ukraine for its resilience, in a meeting with Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Kozenko.

“Mr. Kozenko thanked the Philippines for its support to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the DND said, adding that a Ukrainian defense attache will be sent to Manila to help bolster defense ties between the two nations. — Adrian H. Halili and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio with Reuters