SINGAPORE, 31 MAY 2025 – Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. joined his counterparts at the United States-Southeast Asia Defense Ministerial Meeting on 30 May 2025.

The meeting brought defense ministers and senior officials from the United States and Southeast Asian nations together to reaffirm commitments to regional peace, security, and stability. The agenda focused on deepening defense cooperation and addressing shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber threats, and disaster response.

In his intervention, Secretary Teodoro welcomed the opportunity to engage with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and fellow defense leaders from the region, and extended special recognition to Minister Chan of Singapore, whom he had a bilateral meeting with earlier in the afternoon.

Secretary Teodoro also highlighted the strategic significance of the United States’ participation in the meeting, particularly amidst increasing challenges to the rules-based international order. “Sustained U.S. leadership is crucial, especially for the smaller states of Southeast Asia,” he emphasized.

Read the DND press release here: U.S., Southeast Asian nations convene to strengthen Indo-Pacific security cooperation – The Official Website of the Department of National Defense.