The Philippines is expected to enhance its defense cooperation with different countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions as Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was scheduled to meet his counterparts on the sidelines of the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore.

The SLD presents a valuable opportunity for defense policymakers to explore ways to collaborate and address regional and global security challenges.

Teodoro will first have a ministerial-level meeting with Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Minister of National Defense of Lithuania, on Saturday, June 1, according to Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong.

“This ministerial-level meeting is a follow-up to the visit to the Philippines by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on April 25, 2024,” Andolong said.

During Landsbergis’ visit to the country, he discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and expressed Lithuania’s solidarity with the Philippines in the aftermath of a water cannon incident involving a Chinese vessel in the offensive against a Philippine vessel in the West Philippine Sea. 

He also threw support for the 2016 arbitral award as both countries consider each other as “like-minded” partners that support the preservation of the rules-based international order.

Meanwhile, Teodoro will also meet with Bill Blair, Minister of Defense of Canada; Judith Anne Collins, Minister of Defense of New Zealand; Shin Won-Sik, Minister of National Defense of South Korea; and Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission for a Stronger Europe in the World.

The defense chief will explore opportunities for bilateral and multilateral collaboration with his counterparts, get updates on the defense policies in their countries, and discuss regional security challenges and cooperation particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

Teodoro will then pay a courtesy call on Dr. Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defense of Singapore.

Prior to this, President Marcos Jr. delivered a keynote address to mark the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue where he discussed the Philippines' legal and geopolitical position on the West Philippine Sea, a vital lane for international trade and economy. He spoke before an in-person audience of more than 550 delegates representing 40 countries, which was live streamed for a global audience.

Marcos became the first Filipino head of state to be invited to address the Shangri-La defense forum, which is considered as one of Asia's most significant gatherings of senior officials from the security, defense, geopolitics, and diplomatic sectors.