WASHINGTON reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines and their shared vision of a peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region, following US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s meeting with Southeast Asian defense ministers.
“Secretary Hegseth’s leadership of the Department of War and his frequent engagements with our Southeast Asian partners demonstrate the Trump administration’s determination to strengthen alliances, deepen regional cooperation, and ensure that peace is backed by strength,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said in a statement on Monday.
Mr. Hegseth was in Cebu from Oct. 27 to 29 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, where he proposed an “ambitious” US-ASEAN defense framework that will guide joint initiatives in the coming years
The embassy also emphasized the need for an equally strong economic partnership with Manila, noting it supports the Philippines’ economic development and believes reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade is essential to shared prosperity.
Mr. Lipton on Sunday posted on Facebook that the SelectUSA program brought next generation Filipino business leaders and top US business together for massive growth. These Filipino businesspeople included Hans “Chico” Sy, Jr., president of SM Engineering Design and Development Corporation, and Mariana E. Zobel de Ayala, director of Globe Telecom.
“We’re working hard to bring HUGE investments to the US and the Philippines!” the envoy concluded. — Francessca S. Abalos