During his visit to the Philippines, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. met with key leaders in Manila to discuss efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Philippine alliance. Brown engaged in discussions with Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Ano, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. They focused on bilateral security assistance, maritime domain awareness, and the regional security environment. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific through transparency, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful dispute resolution.
As part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the U.S. and the Philippines added four new rotational sites in 2023, bringing the total to nine sites under the agreement. Brown, who first visited the Philippines in 1987, noted the significant growth in the partnership over the past nearly 40 years. He highlighted the positive trajectory of the relationship and the increasing ties between the Philippines and other regional allies. Brown’s visit to the Philippines was the first stop on a multiday visit to the Indo-Pacific region where he aimed to strengthen partnerships and investments in the region.
The U.S. continues to deepen security cooperation and extend deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with key allies like South Korea and Japan. The Washington Declaration in April 2023 marked the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance and reinforced the mutual defense relationship between the two countries. Trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea has also been a focus, as outlined during a summit among President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David in August 2023. NATO has expanded its partnership with key allies in the region, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
In the coming days, Brown will travel to Japan to meet with senior government officials and military leaders to discuss regional deterrence and security cooperation. The U.S. continues to prioritize robust partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to advance a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. These partnerships are crucial in the face of increased competition with China, the United States’ pacing challenge, and threats posed by North Korea. By strengthening alliances and deepening cooperation with key regional allies, the U.S. aims to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
