Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. met with key defense ministers from Australia and India on the sidelines of regional meetings in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, to deepen security cooperation, enhance military modernization, and address pressing challenges in the maritime domain.
During his bilateral discussion with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Teodoro focused on regional security concerns, drawing attention to China’s expansionist policies and coercive actions.
Both officials explored ways to advance bilateral defense ties, emphasizing maritime domain awareness, joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and defense infrastructure development.
The meeting builds upon previous dialogues held earlier in August, which paved the way for the Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA). The framework is anticipated to be formally signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the upcoming ASEAN Summit. Furthermore, Teodoro and Marles discussed scaling up Exercise ALON and potentially including other Status of Visiting Forces Agreement partners.
In a separate engagement at the ADMM-Plus meetings, Teodoro sat down with Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh to pursue tighter collaboration in maritime security, defense modernization, and military engagements.
Singh emphasized the critical need to preserve freedom of navigation in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The talks also touched on the ongoing progress of the BrahMos missile project under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program. The long-range, ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missiles—which can be launched from ships, submarines, or aircraft—were procured to bolster the country’s external defense capabilities, with President Marcos expressing interest in acquiring additional units.
Singh outlined several milestones for deepening cooperation, including reciprocal ship visits, service-to-service staff talks, and the creation of a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
Expressing gratitude for India’s support, Teodoro advocated for expanding the Philippine Defense Attaché’s Office in India and confirmed plans to deploy a Philippine liaison officer to India’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region to improve maritime information sharing.
According to a Department of National Defense (DND) statement, both officials also explored broadening cooperation into space, cybersecurity, and supply chain diversification.
“Secretary Teodoro likewise emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties and diversifying the Philippines’ supply chains, identifying India as a strategic partner and alternative source of essential commodities,” the DND statement read.
“The meeting reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to advancing their Strategic Partnership and expanding practical cooperation in support of mutual interests and regional peace and stability,” it added.