By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Friday welcomed Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at Malacañan Palace in Manila, as the Philippines and Australia seek to strengthen their defense cooperation.
A video of Bersamin’s meeting with Marles was uploaded on the official Facebook page of state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also joined the meeting held at Malacañan’s Presidential Guest House, based on the video.
Marles is in Metro Manila to attend the second Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers’ Meeting, a high-level dialogue which is part of efforts to institutionalize regular consultations on defense and security matters.
He is also set to observe activities related to Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations (Alon) 2025, Australia’s largest overseas joint training activity this year, and discuss the overall bilateral and regional defense cooperation between the two countries.
Aside from the Philippines and Australia, the United States and Canada are also participating in the joint exercise, bringing the total number of personnel deployed for the event to more than 3,600.
The Philippines and Australia elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2023, paving the way for closer defense, economic, and people-to-people cooperation.
The two nations’ militaries have conducted a series of joint activities in recent years, including maritime patrols and humanitarian assistance drills. (PNA)
