Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a meeting with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Año in Washington, DC.
This meeting followed President Biden’s bilateral meeting with Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the historic Japan-Philippines-United States Trilateral Leaders’ Summit on April 11.
The participants reaffirmed their joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and explored avenues to enhance coordination on mutual challenges in the South China Sea, particularly addressing the repeated disruptions of lawful Philippine activities by the People’s Republic of China.
Secretary Blinken, Secretary of Defense Austin, and National Security Advisor Sullivan reiterated the unwavering dedication of the United States to the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, emphasizing that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty covers armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – in the South China Sea.
They emphasized their resolve to bolster U.S. assistance for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enhance interoperability and achieve common security goals. Additionally, they agreed to explore further opportunities to garner international support for upholding the law of the sea.