MANILA – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to make his first official visit to the Philippines next week for a security dialogue, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Saturday (22 March 2025).
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth will discuss key “security objectives” with Filipino leaders and meet with U.S. and Philippine forces during his trip.
His visit to the Philippines follows stops in Hawaii and Guam and will be followed by a trip to Japan.
“These engagements will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Parnell said.
He emphasized that the visit underscores Washington’s commitment to deepening cooperation with like-minded nations to bolster regional security.
Hegseth’s trip comes ahead of the annual Balikatan exercises, a joint military training between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military.
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