Cebu:Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is set to meet with his United States counterpart, Pete Hegseth, during the ASEAN Defense Ministers-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu this week.
According to Philippines News Agency, Teodoro will engage in a bilateral meeting with Hegseth on the sidelines of the summit. The discussions will focus on enhancing defense relations, evaluating current collaborations, and exploring future initiatives. The ADMM-Plus and the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) are scheduled to take place in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on October 28 and 29.
The ADMM, established in 2006, serves as ASEAN's premier defense consultative platform, while the ADMM-Plus, initiated in 2010, facilitates expanded regional defense dialogue and cooperation with eight non-ASEAN countries, including the US, Australia, and China. Teodoro emphasized the importance of intra-ASEAN peace and security as foundational to regional stability.
Additionally, Teodoro addressed the potential expansion of the Philippines' Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFAs) with other nations. This expansion aims to bolster international peacekeeping, enhance military interoperability, and advance collective security efforts. Currently, the Philippines maintains SOVFAs with five countries, including France and Japan, which are based on shared international law principles.
