US eyes transfer of coast guard cutter to PH
Teodoro, Hegseth reaffirm ties in Singapore meet
Published May 31, 2026 12:10 pm
|
Updated May 31, 2026 02:07 pm
At A Glance
- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the vessel transfer following a high-level bilateral meeting with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Saturday, May 30, on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
(L-R) United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. meet on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30, 2026, reaffirming the enduring Philippines-US alliance as both countries mark the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). (Photo: DND)
The United States plans to transfer a Coast Guard cutter to the Philippines to bolster the latter’s maritime security amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the vessel transfer following a high-level bilateral meeting with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Saturday, May 30, on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
“Honored to meet Secretary Teodoro for the fifth time as we bolster defense cooperation along the First Island Chain—backed by our most advanced-ever BALIKATAN exercise and a Coast Guard cutter transfer,” Hegseth said in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).
“We continue to put Peace through Strength into action,” he added.
The meeting took place as Manila and Washington mark the 75th anniversary of the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). The 1951 accord binds both nations to defend each other in the event of an armed attack in the Pacific.
During the meeting, Teodoro reaffirmed the Philippines’ “ironclad alliance” with the US. He also underscored Manila's “strong support for the US’ commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.”
Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines stands as a “witness to the robustness of US partnerships in the region,” noting that such efforts contribute to “greater resilience and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”
Meanwhile, Hegseth highlighted that the frequency of their meetings underscored the “depth and consistency of Philippines-US defense cooperation.”
The Pentagon chief also commended the successful conduct of the recent Exercise Balikatan, noting it as the “largest iteration to date and a testament to the growing interoperability and readiness of both armed forces.”
The US reaffirmed its commitment to support the monitoring of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) amid ongoing maritime tensions and Hegseth expressed continued American support for Philippine defense interests.
To sustain long-term operational defense ties, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US Indopacom) renewed for another 15 years the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), a defense agreement that allows the two forces to use secure and encrypted communications systems when operating together.
Teodoro also invited Hegseth to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus later this year, recognizing the upcoming occasion as an “opportunity to strengthen engagement not only with the Philippines but also with defense counterparts.”
Capitol Hill backing
Aside from his meeting with Hegseth, Teodoro also secured commitments from the US legislature during separate engagements with US Senate and House of Representatives delegations.
Teodoro expressed appreciation for the “continued bipartisan support of the United States (US) Congress for Philippine defense priorities” and reaffirmed the “enduring strength of the Philippines-US alliance.”
Meeting with a US Senate delegation led by Senator Pete Ricketts and joined by Senator Tammy Duckworth, Teodoro underscored the importance of “consistently exposing malign actions that threaten human lives, as well as regional peace and security.”
The defense chief highlighted the importance of “principled and collective action in upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
In response, the American senators expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ “efforts in addressing malign activities and promoting adherence to international law.”
They also recognized the successful conduct of Exercise Balikatan and its contribution to “enhancing interoperability among the Philippines, the US, and other like-minded partners.”
Teodoro shared with the lawmakers that the AFP remains “actively engaged in exercises and capacity-building activities throughout the year,” including humanitarian assistance and disaster response initiatives with defense partners.
In a separate meeting with a US House of Representatives delegation composed of Representatives Pat Harrigan, Gregory Meeks, and Michael Baumgartner, Teodoro provided an overview of the regional security environment.
The US Representatives reaffirmed their support for the Philippines as a “steadfast ally,” underscoring the growing defense and security partnership between the two countries as a “positive force for deterrence and regional stability.”