The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their long-standing alliance and security cooperation.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and newly appointed US National Security Adviser (NSA) Mike Waltz made this pledge in a meeting at the White House in Washington D.C. on Wednesday (US time).

Teodoro was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Thursday.

He added this meeting was “under the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and in coordination with Philippine National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año.”

“The meeting took place two days after President Donald Trump assumed office. The Philippines, represented by Secretary Teodoro, is among the first countries to engage with the new US administration to discuss critical security matters,” Andolong said.

During the meeting, Teodoro extended the Philippines’ congratulations to the US on a successful transition of leadership, underscoring the shared commitment to peace, stability, and mutual security interests in the region.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral defense ties in addressing emerging geopolitical challenges.

“NSA Waltz also expressed his appreciation of President Marcos’ efforts to uphold freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order,” Andolong added.

Teodoro also met with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Byers, and US National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy.

Waltz and his team also stressed the need to enhance cooperation with the Philippines. They also looked forward to increasing mutual security activities in support of a free and global Indo-Pacific, an initiative dating back to Trump’s first presidency.

“This engagement marked a significant step in further advancing the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and the United States, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration under the Trump administration. Both sides expressed optimism about deepening defense and security cooperation in the years ahead,” Andolong said. (PNA)