The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their ironclad defense and security commitment amid the current geopolitical developments in the Asia-Pacific, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

“In my meeting with President Trump, we reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty,” President Marcos said in his arrival statement after concluding his three-day official visit to the U.S.

“I thank the United States for its consistent support for the preservation of regional peace and stability and for upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea,” the President said.

The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) underscores the commitment of both nations to support each other, reflecting their shared resolve to uphold regional peace and security.

The President shared that his meeting with President Trump included discussions on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as cybersecurity, energy security, resilience, and the development of critical infrastructure.

At the same time, President Marcos emphasized the importance of multilateral engagement, particularly with neighboring countries, to further strengthen the network of common alliances in the region.

The President said that during his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, they discussed key defense and security issues.

The President said that U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, in a separate meeting, also reaffirmed the vital role of the Philippine-U.S. alliance in promoting peace, stability, and security in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region. | PND