Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr. welcomed General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) of the United States (US), at the Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday, to discuss areas of mutual interest and strengthen the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the United States.
Secretary Teodoro emphasized the DND’s commitment to supporting the discussions between General Brown and General Brawner.
“Reflecting on the recent talks with US Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary Teodoro reiterated the importance of the continued cooperation between the two nations’ defense establishments,” DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
The defense chief also highlighted the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, expressing optimism for similar agreements with other like-minded countries. He also stressed the need to address critical concerns, especially in the information and communications technology (ICT), and cyber domains.
“Our cyberspace is the most vulnerable in the defense establishment, and the most aggressive attacks come from state and non-state actors. In this age of disinformation, maintaining robust cybersecurity is paramount,” Secretary Teodoro stated.
General Brown, for his part, acknowledged the strong relationship between the Philippines and the United States, emphasizing the importance of his visit in sustaining the momentum of bilateral cooperation.
Both officials expressed optimism about the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), noting that it is on a positive trajectory.
General Brawner, meanwhile, expressed the AFP’s satisfaction with the visit of his counterpart, seeing it as a reaffirmation of the robust Philippines-US military relationship.
“This visit sends a strong message to our neighbors and signals that our military-to-military relationship is strong. We hope that General Brown’s visit will be beneficial for both the Philippines and the US,” General Brawner stated.
