United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila amid controversy over leaked Yemen strike plans. Hegseth emphasized the importance of standing together against threats from China and ensuring free navigation in the region. Marcos welcomed the visit as a strong message of the allies’ commitment to bolster their alliance. This trip comes as the US seeks to rally allies in the Asia Pacific region to counter China’s growing power and influence. The visit also highlights tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently criticized Beijing’s claims as fiction, and there have been reports of confrontations between Chinese vessels and the Philippine coastguard. After his visit to the Philippines, Hegseth will travel to Japan to meet with Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and attend a memorial service for servicemen killed in World War II. Overall, Hegseth’s visit underscores US efforts to strengthen alliances in the region amid growing challenges from China.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
