Philippines Seeks Stronger US Defense Alliance as Hegseth Visits Cebu

 

The Philippines is looking to expand defense cooperation with the United States as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to meet Southeast Asian defense officials in Cebu this week, with military modernization and regional security expected to feature prominently in discussions.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said on Tuesday, October 27, that strengthening the longstanding alliance with Washington remains a priority for Manila. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong indicated that discussions could extend beyond diplomatic commitments to practical cooperation in military operations, equipment modernization, and capability development.

The United States remains a key partner in efforts to upgrade the Armed Forces of the Philippines and strengthen its ability to address evolving security challenges. However, Andolong said specific outcomes from Hegseth's meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. would become clearer once the discussions take place.

Hegseth's Cebu visit marks his second trip to the Philippines since becoming Pentagon chief. His first visit came in March 2025, during his inaugural Asia trip in the role.

Defense cooperation between Manila and Washington has also expanded through regional security initiatives. During last year's ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Hegseth and Teodoro announced the establishment of Task Force Philippines, an initiative intended to deter coercion in the South China Sea.

The visit also comes amid Washington's push for Asian allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense. Hegseth emphasized this position during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier this year, underscoring the importance of stronger regional military capabilities alongside US partnerships.

South China Sea tensions likely to feature in talks

Maritime security is expected to remain a central issue during the Cebu meetings, particularly disputes involving the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

Andolong said these concerns have consistently featured in previous ADMM discussions and are unlikely to be absent from the current gathering. For the Philippines, the discussions provide an opportunity to reinforce regional cooperation as it continues to confront maritime security challenges.

The meeting is taking place ahead of US President Donald Trump's expected visit to Shenzhen for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the third time this year.

China's participation in the Cebu defense gathering, however, remains uncertain. Andolong confirmed that Beijing had been invited but had not yet provided confirmation of its delegation. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun's attendance was therefore still unconfirmed as of Tuesday.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun cautioned against efforts to use the regional gathering to undermine ASEAN's unity or provoke disputes, without identifying any country directly.

Dong attended the two previous ADMM-Plus meetings and held his first in-person talks with Hegseth on the sidelines of last year's gathering in Kuala Lumpur.

The Cebu meeting will test how regional defense officials balance competing security interests while maintaining dialogue. For Manila, closer cooperation with Washington offers a path toward stronger military capabilities, but the discussions will also take place within a broader regional environment where maritime disputes and relations with Beijing remain consequential.