MANILA (Bernama-PNA): Philippine Department of National Defence (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr is scheduled to meet with United States (US) Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on March 28 at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported.
This will be the first in-person meeting between the two defence chiefs, following a phone call in February during which Teodoro congratulated Hegseth on his appointment and both reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening US-Philippines defence ties, said DND on Monday.
Speaking during the 49th founding anniversary of the Western Command in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Monday, Teodoro said the meeting would focus on enhancing cooperation between Manila and Washington.
"In a few days, my counterpart, the Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defence of the United States of America, will pay a visit to the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) and to myself, where we will discuss ways to enhance our bilateral, trilateral, and squad partnerships," he said.
According to the US Department of Defence, Hegseth will visit the Philippines after stops in Hawaii and Guam, before heading to Japan. - Bernama-PNA
