Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. bolstered the country’s defense relations with Canada, United States, and Malaysia as he met with key officials from the three countries to discuss possible areas of collaboration, the DND said on Saturday, August 5.
(L-R) Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines David Bruce Hartman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. meet at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on August 4, 2023. (Photo by DND)
Teodoro received Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines David Bruce Hartman during the latter’s courtesy call at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on August 4.
During their meeting, Hartman conveyed Canada’s intention to “increase its presence” in the Indo-Pacific region while Teodoro remarked how Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy “aligns with the DND's thrust to strengthen its defense partnerships with like-minded states” in addressing pressing and emerging security concerns in the region.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy emphasizes the importance of economic engagement in the region. The strategy highlights Canada's “commitment to promoting free trade and investment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and enhancing economic cooperation.”
“The two officials committed to pursue practical cooperation on disaster resilience as well as education and training, among other initiatives between the Philippine and Canadian defense establishments, through capacity-building projects,” , Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
The Philippines and Canada will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic relations in 2024.
PH-US partnership
Meanwhile, Teodoro held a bilateral meeting with US Senator Richard Lynn "Rick" Scott to reaffirm the importance of the “strong and enduring partnership” between the Philippines and the US last August 3.
Teodoro and Scott’s meeting provided an opportunity to explore avenues for economic cooperation within the defense sector and maritime security collaboration, underscoring the commitment of both nations “to strengthen the alliance.”
In particular, Teodoro emphasized the necessity of capability upgrades for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to establish deterrence and maintain a credible defense posture.
He stressed the importance of the capability to absorb and sustain acquired assets, as well as preparedness for asymmetric warfare.
PH-Malaysia ties
Teodoro also hosted Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino when he paid a courtesy visit at Camp Aguinaldo last August 2.
Teodoro and Castelino’s meeting centered on Malaysia’s contributions to the Mindanao peace process. Malaysia served as a third-party facilitator to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to facilitate the implementation of peace between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“Aside from soliciting support from Malaysia for the development of the halal industry and Islamic banking for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Secretary Teodoro enjoined Malaysia's assistance in capacitating the local government units (LGUs) as well as the normalization process through the decommissioning of ammunition, land strengthening of Islamic literacy for Filipino Ulama (Muslim scholars/clerics),” Andolong noted.
Teodoro also proposed to boost the educational cooperation between the two countries in enhancing the Arabic and Islamic literacy of the AFP Chaplain Service with the Military Religious Corps of Malaysia “to prevent possible radicalization and misinterpretation of the Qur’an and hadith.”
Castelino, in return, assured Malaysia's continuous support for just and lasting peace in Mindanao and welcomed the proposal to improve Islamic literacy in the Philippines as a way to counter regional terrorism and violent extremism.