By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is set to meet his American counterpart, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 28.
In an advisory Monday, the DND said the meeting will be at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
This is the first in-person meeting between the two defense chiefs, following a phone call in February.
During the phone conference, Teodoro congratulated Hegseth on his appointment as DOD chief even as both officials expressed optimism on the deepening defense ties of the two nations.
During his speech at the Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command’s 49th founding anniversary on Monday, Teodoro said his meeting with Hegseth would focus on further improving ties between Manila and Washington D.C.
“In a few days, my counterpart, the Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America will pay a visit to the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) and to myself where we will discuss ways to enhance our bilateral and trilateral and squad partnerships,” he said.
On March 22, the US DOD said Hegseth would visit the Philippines right after his trip to Hawaii and Guam. Afterward, he will be traveling to Japan. (PNA)
