Amid escalating Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, the commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Admiral Samuel Paparo, visited the Philippines from February 20 to 22 to reaffirm U.S. support for its ally.
In his remarks during the 80th year commemoration of the Liberation of Manila at the Manila American Cemetery, Paparo stressed the enduring U.S.-Philippines partnership.
“Our nations have stood together for decades, confronting common challenges and advancing shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region. As we honor the memory of those who gave their lives, let us rededicate ourselves to the cause of freedom and our enduring partnership,” he said.
Paparo said the U.S. remains steadfast in its support for the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. “The United States is committed to the defense and security of the Philippines, and we will continue to work together to deter aggression and uphold international law,” he added.
During his visit, Admiral Paparo engaged with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
According to the US embassy, the discussions focused on vital security concerns, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and counterterrorism efforts.
One key moment of the visit was a meeting between Admiral Paparo and Secretary of National Defense and Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness and overall capacity to counter illegal and coercive actions in the region.
Paparo also honored the memory of U.S. and Filipino World War II veterans at the ceremony at the American cemetery.
The ceremony, attended by both U.S. and Philippine dignitaries, paid tribute to over 1,000 American soldiers and more than 100,000 Filipino civilians who perished during the battle to liberate the Philippine capital.
The U.S.-Philippines Alliance, which has been in place since 1951, continues to ensure peace and stability in the region, with a shared commitment to transparency, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful dispute resolution.
Ongoing modernization efforts, such as joint exercises like Balikatan, are further strengthening bilateral interoperability across various domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.
In its news release, the U.S. embassy said USINDOPACOM works to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, its mission remains clear: to promote security cooperation, support peaceful development, respond to contingencies, deter aggression, and, when necessary, prevail in conflict.
