United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines during his official visit to Manila, pledging to strengthen military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific amid escalating tensions with China.

Hegseth, who arrived on March 27, underscored that the U.S. views its alliance with Manila as central to regional security. The visit, his first international trip as defense chief and the first by a top U.S. official under President Donald Trump’s second term, signaled Washington’s intent to reinforce its presence in the region.

“Trump is very committed to the alliance that we have, to the friendship that we have, the cooperation that we have,” Hegseth said during his meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at Malacañang Palace on March 28.

“He (Trump) and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to the partnership, economically, militarily, which our staffs have worked on diligently for weeks and weeks and months,” he added.

The timing of Hegseth’s visit comes as tensions between the Philippines and China continue to escalate over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, particularly in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), known locally as the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos welcomed the visit, calling it a strong affirmation of the enduring U.S. – Philippines alliance.

“Your visit sends a very strong message of the commitment of both our countries to continue to work together to maintain the peace in the Indo-Pacific region within the South China Sea,” Marcos said, adding that Hegseth’s visit was “very important”, given the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape.

The Philippine leader also underscored the deep historical ties between the two nations, emphasizing that Filipinos have long viewed the U.S. as a stabilizing force in the region.

“We have always understood the principle that the greatest force for peace in this part of the world would be the United States,” Marcos said.

Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s unwavering support for the Philippines.

“I had a chance to speak just a few minutes ago to our president, President Trump, who sends his regards to you as well, thinks very fondly of this great country,” he told Marcos. “There is a very real reason why our first trip and our first visit, is here to your great country.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) welcomes U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Malacañang Palace on March 28, 2025, for talks on strengthening security ties and advancing shared strategic goals. Photo credit: Presidential Communications Office

Strengthening deterrence: Military cooperation deepens

As part of efforts to bolster the Philippines’ defense capabilities, Hegseth announced that the U.S. would deploy advanced military assets, including the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and unmanned surface vessels, to support upcoming joint military exercises such as Balikatan 2025.

These systems, he said, would allow U.S. and Philippine forces to train together on using advanced capabilities to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“Peace through strength is a very real thing. Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese,” Hegseth said.

He also stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in contested waters, recognizing the Philippines’ rightful claims in the region.

“Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict to ensure that there’s free navigation, whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, we recognize that your country has stand very firm in that location and in defense of your nation,” the Pentagon chief added.

“Our allies will know we stand with them. Our admirals are prepared, and they will be properly equipped,” he said. “We’re rebuilding our military under President Trump.”

The visit also marked the launch of a joint vision statement on defense industry cooperation and a bilateral cybersecurity initiative aimed at boosting logistics, co-production, and cyber resilience in the face of evolving threats.

In a meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, Hegseth outlined a four-piece plan to reinforce military cooperation between the two nations:

• Deploying advanced military capabilities to the Philippines, including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system and unmanned surface vehicles.
• Enhancing interoperability for high-end operations through special operations training in the Batanes Islands, a critical location near Taiwan.
• Expanding defense industrial cooperation, including joint production of unmanned systems and improving logistics support.
• Launching a bilateral cybersecurity campaign to enhance alliance-wide cyber resilience.

Hegseth noted that these efforts build on a US$500-million U.S. commitment for Philippine military modernization, pledged in mid-2024.

Alliance at critical juncture 

The Philippines has been increasingly assertive in defending its maritime rights, particularly after repeated encounters with Chinese vessels near disputed waters. The latest move by Washington underscores Manila’s strategic role in U.S. efforts to counterbalance Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

“The United States has been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Philippines since World War II,” Hegseth said. “Our partnership not only continues today, but we are doubling down on that partnership, and our ironclad alliance has never been stronger.”

For his part, Teodoro reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities alongside the U.S.

“We are going to work very closely, not only with our treaty ally, but with other like-minded partners in re-establishing deterrence,” Teodoro said. 

“This will mean increased interoperational activities, joint exercises, and realistic training scenarios to mirror what may be possible in the future,” he added.

Top photo credit: Department of National Defense. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. address reporters after their meeting at AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on March 28, 2025.