Teodoro: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the necessity of a "strong defense backbone" for a nation to earn international respect during the September General Membership Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) in Makati City.

According to Philippines News Agency, Teodoro stressed the importance of national defense resilience, stating that no country is taken seriously without it, regardless of diplomatic efforts. He highlighted the significance of a "strong deterrent backbone," particularly for smaller nations, in ensuring their security and international standing.

Teodoro pointed out that the increasing number of visiting forces agreements (VFAs) that the Philippines has with other countries represents strong support for the Arbitral Award, the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that favored the Philippines' case against China regarding the West Philippine Sea. Currently, the Philippines maintains VFAs with the United States, Australia, and Japan, and is in the process of establishing agreements with New Zealand, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.

The DND noted that the AmCham meeting, themed "Safeguarding the Philippines in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape," served as an opportunity for dialogue between the defense sector and the business community to promote a secure, stable, and rules-based environment for development.