Richard Sanders
During today’s visit to Manila, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Trump administration will support the Philippines in addressing the threats from China. Amidst a national security controversy in the US, Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s strong commitment to the region during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today in Manila. He emphasized the importance of deterrence in the area, stating, “Deterrence is essential globally, but particularly in this region and your country, given the challenges from communist China.” He further remarked that allies must unite to prevent conflict and ensure freedom of navigation, whether referred to as the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.
In a reaffirmation of continuity in US defense strategy, the Trump administration has announced the deployment of advanced military assets to the Philippines, mirroring the previous Biden defense policy. The US Department of Defense confirmed that during this year’s Balikatan joint military exercises, the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) will be implemented, showcasing America’s commitment to regional stability. During today’s meetings in Manila with Philippine officials, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined the collaborative approach both nations are taking to enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
This partnership is bolstered by the US’s ongoing $500 million foreign military financing initiative aimed at aiding the modernization of the Philippine military. “First, we agreed that the United States will deploy additional advanced capabilities to the Philippines. This includes utilizing the NMESIS, an anti-ship missile system, and sophisticated unmanned surface vehicles in this April’s Balikatan exercises,” Hegseth stated. As the Trump presidency moves forward, this alignment with the previously established defense policies indicates a sustained focus on strengthening military ties and preparedness in the region.
在今天的訪問中，美國國防部長皮特·赫格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）表示特朗普政府將支持菲律賓應對來自中國的威脅。在美國國家安全爭議的背景下，赫格塞斯在馬尼拉與菲律賓總統費迪南德·馬科斯（Ferdinand Marcos Jr.）會晤時重申了華盛頓對該地區的強烈承諾。他強調了該地區威懾的重要性，並表示：“威懾在全球至關重要，但在這個地區和你的國家尤為重要，因為來自共產中國的挑戰。” 他進一步表示，盟國必須團結起來以防止衝突，並保障航行自由，無論被稱為南中國海還是西菲律賓海。
作為美國國防戰略連貫性的重申，特朗普政府已宣布向菲律賓部署先進軍事資產，這與之前的拜登國防政策相呼應。美國國防部確認在今年的巴里卡坦（Balikatan）聯合軍事演習中，將實施海軍-海軍陸戰隊遠征船隻攔截系統（NMESIS），展現美國對該地區穩定的承諾。在今天與菲律賓官員的會議上，美國國防部長皮特·赫格塞斯概述了兩國在加強印度-太平洋地區威懾方面的合作方法。
這一夥伴關係得到了美國持續進行的5億美元外國軍事融資計劃的支持，旨在幫助現代化菲律賓軍隊。“首先，我們達成一致，美國將向菲律賓部署額外的先進能力，包括在四月的巴里卡坦演習中使用NMESIS，一種反艦導彈系統和先進的無人地面車輛，”赫格塞斯表示。隨著特朗普總統任期的推進，這一與先前確立的防禦政策的一致性顯示出對加強該地區軍事聯繫和戰備的持續專注。
