President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday (Washington DC time) affirmed the enduring strength and expanding breadth of the US-Philippine alliance, calling the visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last March a “very strong and symbolic message” of the two nations’ shared commitment to defense, security, and broader cooperation.
Marcos met with Hegseth at the Pentagon ahead of his scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump.
From a transcript of their meeting shared by the US embassy in Manila, their bilateral meeting focused on advancing military interoperability, regional deterrence, and modernization of the Philippine armed forces amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea.
“Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today,” Hegseth said during the welcoming ceremony at the Pentagon.
“Together, we remain committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea,” the US official added.
Marcos, for his part, emphasized the historical and evolving nature of US-Philippine relations, saying, “You cannot limit the Philippine-American relationship to one dimension…The evolution of that partnership has really encompassed all kinds of areas—from people-to-people,” to government cooperation, to security and economic development.
The Philippine leader hailed the recent Balikatan 2025 joint military exercises as a milestone in deepening bilateral defense capabilities. The largest and most complex version of the annual exercise to date, Balikatan involved over 14,000 troops from more than 20 nations and tested readiness across land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains.
“The feedback [we’ve received] from our military has been very good,” Marcos said. “They’ve learned not only [how to operate] with American forces but also with…[partners from] Australia, Canada, and all of the other countries that have been involved.”
Hegseth credited the partnership for rapid advances since his March visit to Manila, citing progress in expanding joint exercises, deploying unmanned systems and advanced missile technology, and revitalizing defense industrial bases.
“Together, we must forge a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring long-term security and prosperity for our nations,” the US Cabinet official said.
Earlier in the day, Marcos also met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC In their discussion, the two leaders reaffirmed the “ironclad” alliance between their nations and underscored the importance of maintaining peace and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
According to a readout from Rubio’s office, the two also spoke of boosting economic ties through initiatives such as the Luzon Economic Corridor and looked ahead to commemorating the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Rubio and Marcos committed to maintaining high-level engagement across all sectors of cooperation, signaling what Marcos described as an “expanding and evolving” alliance responsive to shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“We are always very, very happy to continue to strengthen that relationship,” Marcos said, citing the need for constant dialogue and adaptation in the face of evolving regional threats.
As Marcos prepares for his high-level meeting with President Trump, the message from the day’s engagements was clear: the United States and the Philippines stand united in defense, diplomacy, and development—determined to uphold peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
