DND strengthens defense ties with key European nations
The Department of National Defense (DND) reinforced its defense cooperation with major European allies on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, May 31.
DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held separate bilateral meetings with European Union (EU) chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, United Kingdom Minister of State for Defence Lord Coaker, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, and Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė.
“The meetings reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to deepening defense partnerships with European nations that support peace, security, and sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” the DND said in a statement Sunday, June 1.
According to the defense department, Teodoro and Kallas agreed to pursue a “structured security dialogue” focused on shared challenges and regional stability.
Meanwhile, Lecornu reaffirmed France’s growing strategic involvement in the Indo-Pacific. He pledged to advance joint military activities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the negotiation of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), which would enable the French military to hold exercises in the Philippines and vice versa.
Teodoro and Coaker highlighted plans to strengthen cooperation through United Kingdom’s upcoming naval deployments and expanded defense education exchanges.
Teodoro also explored future joint military training and ship visits with Jonson as both ministers acknowledged the need to counter disinformation operations and protect sea lines of communication.
Finally, Teodoro and Šakalienė emphasized the importance of collaboration among like-minded small nations, citing recent cyber defense engagements and shared interest in defense technology collaboration.
Teodoro represented the Philippines in the Shangri-La Dialogue, considered as Asia’s premier defense summit.
Young Leaders Ministerial Roundtable
Meanwhile, Teodoro addressed young professionals and strategic thinkers at the Young Leaders Ministerial Roundtable of the Shangri-La Dialogue where he stressed the relevance of principled leadership, international cooperation, and values-based decision-making in addressing global security challenges.
Teodoro urged the participants to adopt the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) perspective of “global citizenship”, which pertains to the idea that all people are connected not only to their nations but to a broader global community.
He said such an idea views the world not merely as a battleground for influence and control, but as a "shared home" shaped by interdependence, anchored in norms, ethics, and international law.
“This perspective allows us to go beyond power politics,” Teodoro said. “It enables us to see the world through the lens of common humanity. Our shared challenges demand fair and cooperative solutions grounded in justice and the rule of law.”
However, the defense chief warned that unilateral efforts to reshape the international order – such as the spread of disinformation, manipulation of multilateral platforms, and redefinition of international law – pose serious threats to the cooperative vision.