Singapore - Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held bilateral discussions with defense ministers from Lithuania, Canada, and New Zealand this past Saturday. These meetings, part of the ongoing 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue, focused on enhancing defense and security ties.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lithuania's Minister of National Defence, Laurynas Kasciunas, proposed defense and military training collaborations, particularly in cybersecurity. Teodoro tasked his senior officials to pursue a memorandum of understanding to solidify Philippines-Lithuania defense relations. Furthermore, Kasciunas invited Lithuanian businesses to consider Filipino seafarers for their maritime needs.
During his interaction with New Zealand's Defense Minister Judith Anne Collins, concerns were raised about the situation in the West Philippine Sea. Collins emphasized New Zealand’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and noted ongoing discussions to strengthen cooperation in engineering and logistics.
Teodoro’s dialogue with Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between their countries. Blair commended the Philippines for its strategic defense alliances with nations such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and discussed Canada's significant role in the Indo-Pacific.
The dialogue also included an address by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who marked a historic moment as the first Philippine president to deliver the keynote at this premier defense forum. He elaborated on the Philippines' positions regarding the West Philippine Sea and engaged with media questions regarding its importance to global trade.