Philippines eyes security ties with EU, Netherlands

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, through the Department of National Defense (DND), is looking at a possible defense and security partnership with the Netherlands and European Union.

Norway meanwhile reaffirmed its support for the rule of law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro met with the ambassadors of Netherlands and Norway earlier this week to discuss such plans and future possibilities of cooperation.

Speaking with Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts, Teodoro proposed ways to advance bilateral cooperation through “greenfield opportunities in various industries, particularly in defense and security, with the Netherlands and the European Union.”

Taking note of how the Philippines recently adopted a new National Security Policy, the ambassador reiterated the proposal on establishing naval defense industry cooperation with the Philippines, underscoring its strategic and economic advantages in the long term.

Teodoro agreed and further proposed to develop broader defense cooperation, taking into consideration the importance of other areas such as cyber and artificial intelligence, as well as the Netherland’s potential to become a partner in these areas.

Teodoro, during the courtesy call, also discussed the recalibration of the Philippines’ defense strategy, which sees a shift in favor of territorial and external defense, and underscores the development of a credible defense posture that will effectively protect Philippine interests in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

With Ambassador Geraedts during the meeting was Lt. Col. Dick Alssema, the Tokyo-based Dutch non-resident defense attaché to the Philippines, who was also visiting Manila.

In Teodoro’s separate meeting with Norway Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster, both reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

As the Philippines and Norway celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations on March 2, 2023, Lyster proposed exploring maritime, energy and fisheries industry cooperation.

Teodoro welcomed Norway’s support, noting that it would enable the country to refocus on deterrence, increase footprint in the WPS and assert sovereign rights for resource exploration and exploitation in the country’s EEZ.

Discussing non-traditional security concerns, the DND said Teodoro and Lyster reiterated the importance of cyber domain and the seriousness of threats, such as fake news, while interconnectivity in information systems dramatically increases.