Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. by phone to discuss US-Philippines alliance cooperation. Both Secretaries reaffirmed the ironclad nature of the US-Philippines alliance and committed to redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral training, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Philippine Armed Forces. The Secretaries discussed recent events in the South China Sea, including PRC efforts to obstruct the Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal on August 5, 2023.

https://www.miragenews.com/us-defense-sec-austin-calls-philippine-1062067/

#miragenews