Teodoro: ‘Sustained US leadership crucial’ for smaller ASEAN states 

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Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasizes the importance of the US-Southeast Asia Defense Ministerial Meeting in Singapore 'particularly amidst increasing challenges to the rules-based international order'

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the importance of its treaty-ally the United States’ “sustained leadership” in the region in his speech before defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US defense dhief Pete Hegseth on Friday, May 30. 

Teodoro spoke at the US-Southeast Asia Defense Ministerial Meeting ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue — the premiere defense summit in the region — in Singapore that day.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement that the US-ASEAN ministers’ meeting was “focused on deepening defense cooperation and addressing shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber threats, and disaster response.” 

“Sustained US leadership is crucial, especially for the smaller states of Southeast Asia,” Teodoro said in his intervention at the meeting, the DND said.

The DND, quoting Teodoro, emphasized the importance of the ministers’ meeting “particularly amidst increasing challenges to the rules-based international order.” 

The US, once its colonizer, is the Philippines’ only treaty-ally. The two countries share a deep history, particularly in security and defense. 

Bilateral ties have grown considerably under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the Philippines and US agreeing to adding four more areas under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the US to preposition its assets in the Philippines. 

In early May 2025, the US and Philippines concluded what is thus far the biggest and most complex version of Balikatan, or the flagship annual war games between its two militaries. 

Washington has also allocated $500 million in foreign military assistance to help modernize the Philippine military. The pledge was among the first ordered continued under the second Trump presidency, after a sweeping order to pause US aid globally.

Teodoro’s statements during the ministers’ meeting comes amid the US’ apparent desire to intensify its focus towards the Indo-Pacific — a move European leaders and experts worry could come at the expense of support for Ukraine as in continues to be attacked by Russia. 

Teodoro and Hegseth had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the dialogue in Singapore. According to a release from the US Department of Defense (DOD), the two ministers talked about the “steps the two countries are taking together to reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.” 

“Secretary Hegseth commended the Philippines for standing up against China’s aggressive actions targeting lawful Philippine activities in the South China Sea,” said the DOD release. 

A day earlier, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea.

“The Secretaries noted the importance of partnership and transparency in deterring China and committed to continued progress on strengthening their defense cooperation,” the DOD statement said.

The two defense chiefs met in Manila in March 2024, during Hegseth’s first Philippine visit as defense chief.

US President Donald Trump’s sweeping, and sometimes seemingly arbitrary policies, have caused jitters across the region and the world. His unilateral tariffs — even as they’re on pause until July 2025 — was a major topic of discussion at the recently-concluded ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, for instance. – Rappler.com