The Philippines has taken initiatives to forge closer defense cooperation with Malaysia and Thailand in the face of growing security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday, Feb. 28.
DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Thailand’s Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in Penang, Malaysia last Wednesday to tackle security challenges being faced by their countries and opportunities for collaboration.
Teodoro and Khaled Nordin reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering defense relations, particularly in maritime security, counter-terrorism efforts, and capacity-building programs.
They also welcomed cooperation in human capital development, especially in cybersecurity, to strengthen resilience against malign influence and interference.
Teodoro also thanked the Malaysian government for its swift response to the Philippines’ call for assistance when six successive typhoons struck the country in a month last year.
To recall, six destructive typhoons entered the country’s area of responsibility from Oct. 22 to Nov. 11 last year, beginning with Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine”, Super Typhoon “Leon”, and Tropical Cyclones “Marce”, “Nika”, “Ofel”, and “Pepito”.
To assist in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, the Royal Malaysian Air Force deployed a Eurocopter EC725 Caracal long-range transport helicopter, operated by a team of 16 crew members, to the Philippines.
Teodoro stressed that natural calamities are causing significant displacement to the Philippines, underscoring the urgency of continuously upgrading individual and collective HADR capabilities and capacities.
He also highlighted the importance of regional groupings, like ASEAN, to facilitate rapid response in times of crisis.
Teodoro and Khaled Nordin also acknowledged the territorial disputes between the Philippines and Malaysia over the eastern part of Sabah.
Teodoro emphasized that both nations should continue to work together diplomatically and constructively, allowing them to engage in discussions on other critical issues.
He reiterated the need to further strengthen ties among ASEAN member-states to ensure regional security and stability.
Teodoro Jr. earlier rallied his ASEAN counterparts to unite in addressing security challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific, saying that turning a blind eye on violations by a few states “diminishes” the union.
Collaboration with Thailand
Meanwhile, Teodoro and Wechayachai’s meeting focused on the Philippines and Thailand’s ongoing defense cooperation initiatives, such as intelligence sharing, defense acquisition, and training exchanges aimed at enhancing both countries’ defense capabilities.
Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines and Thailand have maintained a strong relationship for more than 76 years.
The two defense leaders also committed to enhance their ties to promote regional stability, including cooperation on HADR and military medicine.
On disaster risk reduction and management, Teodoro and Wechayai tackled the issue of fires and smoke caused by slash-and-burn practices and other uncontrolled burning activities for planting, which increases security and safety risks for communities.
Wechayachai expressed Thailand’s keen interest in exchanging best practices with the Philippines in terms of HADR.
He emphasized that such cooperation benefits not only both countries but also the entire ASEAN community. He also shared Thailand’s experiences with multi-role fighters (MRF) and its value in strengthening air defense capabilities.