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Bersamin meets Australian deputy PM Marles

Philippines | National

Bersamin meets Australian deputy PM Marles

By Betheena Unite

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and concurrent Defense Minister Richard Marles during a courtesy call in Malacañan Palace.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and concurrent Defense Minister Richard Marles pays a courtesy call on Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 22, 2025 at the Malacañan Palace. (RTVM)

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and concurrent Defense Minister Richard Marles pays a courtesy call on Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 22, 2025 at the Malacañan Palace. (RTVM)

Bersamin welcomed the Australian official at the Presidential Guest House in Malacañan on Friday, Aug. 22.

According to Malacañang, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister is in the country for the second iteration of the Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting (DMM) hosted by the Department of National Defense (DND).

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown were also present during the courtesy call.

On the sidelines of the DMM, Marles will also observe activities under the Philippines-Australia Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations 2025 or Exercise ALON 2025.

From Aug. 15 to 29, more than 3,600 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with additional participation from the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force–Darwin, are training together across Luzon and Palawan to enhance interoperability, readiness, and regional security cooperation.

Exercise ALON 2025 is Australia’s largest overseas joint training activity this year.

Related Tags

Lucas Bersamin Richard Marles Malacañang ALON 2025

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