The Philippines and Germany are set to finalize a more comprehensive defense cooperation agreement, as announced by their defense ministers in a joint statement on Sunday.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius met with Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro in Manila to strengthen ties between the two nations, which are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. The ministers pledged to foster enduring connections between their military forces, aiming to increase training and bilateral exchanges, investigate avenues for enhancing bilateral arms cooperation, and participate in joint projects.
Manila and Berlin are bolstering their military links amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines, which have exchanged allegations over incidents in contested areas of the South China Sea, including claims that China deliberately collided with Manila's naval vessels, causing serious injuries to a Filipino sailor. Teodoro and Pistorius reiterated that the international tribunal's decision on the South China Sea is "final and legally binding," according to the joint statement.
Germany recently joined the U.S.-led United Nations Command in South Korea, becoming the 18th nation in a group tasked with monitoring the heavily fortified border with North Korea and committed to defending the South in case of war. Pistorius noted that this move underscores Berlin's firm conviction that European security is intertwined with security in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States and its allies are expanding their alliances and partnerships, including those that extend across the globe.
