The defense and security relations of the Philippines and Australia are at a “high point” and both countries are optimistic that it will be elevated to even greater heights.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles made the remark during a formal bilateral meeting with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore on Sunday, June 2.

“Our relations with the Philippines are at their high point. We very much welcome this development,” Marles told Teodoro, who thanked his counterpart for a positive assessment of their relations.

Teodoro, in return, said he is looking forward to bringing the Australia-Philippine defense and security ties to the next level as both nations jointly cooperate in strengthening the rules-based international order.

The defense engagement of the Philippines and Australiais underpinned by an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program (E-DCP) with key pillars of maritime security and counter-terrorism (CT), in addition to training and education, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and Gender, Peace and Security.

The Philippines currently has a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Australia, offering a comprehensive legal and operational framework for defense cooperation, as well as with the United States while a similar accord dubbed as the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) is being finalized with Japan.

In a meeting in Hawaii in May, Teodoro, Marles, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru committed to strengthen their cooperation amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the broader South China Sea. The defense cooperation of the four countries are collectively known as the SQUAD.

They vowed to work closely together to ensure that international laws are observed in the high seas and waterways.

Teodoro, Austin huddle

In a separate bilateral meeting, Austin gave his assurance to Teodoro that the US continues to standby its commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a 1951 defense pact between the Philippines and US which requires both countries to support each other in case of an armed attack from a third-party nation.

Teodoro thanked the US for supporting President Marcos' thesis during the opening day of the SLD, which according to the former, “underscores that rights of small states.”

Marcos, in his keynote address on May 31, emphasized that the Philippines is resolute in building up its own defense capabilities, harnessing partnerships, and standing up against attempts to undermine regional stability.

Further, Teodoro shared the ongoing efforts of the DND in upgrading the Philippines' capabilities in line with its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), and expressed the importance of exploring more ways to further deepen and enhance the alliance of the two countries, especially in cybersecurity, information sharing, and other areas.

PH ties with SoKor, EU, Singapore

Teodoro also met separately with Shin Won-Sik, Minister of National Defense of South Korea; 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; and Singapore Defense Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen to discuss regional security challenges and deepen their defense cooperation.

Teodoro told Shin that the DND "values the 75 years of defense and security cooperation" between Seoul and Manila.

"We look forward to the future of South Korea - Philippine relations," the Philippine defense chief said.

This year, the two countries mark their 75th year of the diplomatic relations.

Teodoro also thanked Minister Shin for South Korea's support to the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea issue.

For his part, Shin said South Korea wants to foster stronger and forward-looking defense and security relations with the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Teodoro told Fontelles that the Philippines needs the EU's support in multilateral for a to elevate the country’s defense and military capabilities.

In return, High Representative Fontelles told Teodoro that the EU is willing to extend assistance to the Philippines in areas such as maritime security and cybersecurity.

"We have to do more in this part of the world. Let us do more than courtesy visits," Fontelles said.

On the other hand, Ng and Teodoro reaffirmed the broad-based bilateral defense and security relations between their two countries.

"We value your voice in regional and multilateral forums," Ng told Teodoro, who responded by saying that the Philippines and Singapore "need to cooperate more on areas of mutual interest."