US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Manila Thursday evening to engage in a series of meetings with Philippine government leaders, the US Embassy in Manila has reported.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson welcomed Hegseth at the airport. He traveled to Manila via a US government plane after a visit to American service men and women in Guam.
“Welcome to the Philippines, @SecDef Pete Hegseth! This visit highlights the importance of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance and our ironclad commitment as #FriendsPartnersAllies dedicated to ensuring a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” Carlson wrote on X.
Hegseth is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Friday to discuss areas of cooperation under the second Trump administration.