US defense chief to visit Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III is scheduled to visit the Philippines again next week in what may be his farewell call on Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and his other counterparts in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said this will be Austin’s fourth visit to Manila in the last four years under the Biden administration, which he describes as part of continuing efforts to further strengthen relations between the US and the Philippines.

US president-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint a new defense chief in two months as soon as he is sworn into office in January 2025. Trump announced on Tuesday his choice of Pete Hegseth, a veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as defense secretary.     

Ryder announced yesterday that the Philippines will be Austin’s second stop in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with four countries.     

According to the Pentagon, Austin is scheduled to depart the US this week for a trip to Australia, the Philippines, Laos and Fiji.

He also said Austin will participate in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus on Nov. 21 in Laos, reaffirming the US commitment to ASEAN centrality at the ASEAN-United States Informal Meeting and identifying future areas of cooperation with regional counterparts. 

Austin will then conclude his trip in Fiji, marking the first-ever visit by a US defense secretary and will meet with key Fijian leaders to deepen the bilateral defense relationship.

Ryder said Austin’s trip comes as the US builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security.

Austin’s last visit to Manila was in July this year, when he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Teodoro for the fourth Philippines-United States 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Meanwhile, citing serious concerns over China’s behavior and continual refusal to adhere to international laws, Teodoro and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles announced a renewed commitment to upholding a rules-based international order in the South China Sea.

The announcement was made in a joint statement following the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Canberra, Australia on Tuesday.

Teodoro confirmed the Philippines would participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre next year for the first time, while Marles reaffirmed Australia’s continued participation in the Balikatan Exercise and its inaugural participation in Exercise Salaknib next year.

Both further agreed to develop and sign a new arrangement in 2025 outlining the direction and management of official dialogues, training, leadership development and infrastructure under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program.