WORLD_ Philippines Dismisses Fears of Reduced US Focus Amid Iran Conflict (James Xu - THE EPOCH TIMES)

THE EPOCH TIMES

Philippines Dismisses Fears of Reduced US Focus Amid Iran Conflict

Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro says the country is not concerned that the Iran war will reduce U.S. deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (L) shakes hands with the Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro before a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue Summit in Singapore on May 30, 2025. Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images

James Xu
4/28/2026|Updated: 4/28/2026


The Philippines says it is not concerned that the war in the Middle East will reduce U.S. military focus in the Indo-Pacific region.

The country’s defense secretary, Gilberto Teodoro, said April 28 he has full confidence in the country’s long-standing security pact with the United States.

“I’m not concerned at all about reduced deterrence,” Teodoro said, pointing to the ongoing Balikatan military exercises as proof of Washington’s commitment.

Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual exercise that has grown in size as regional security concerns have increased.

Teodoro warned, however, that China could try to take advantage of any perceived weakness or distraction elsewhere.

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READ MORE: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/philippines-dismisses-fears-of-reduced-us-focus-amid-iran-conflict-6018552?ea_src=frontpage&ea_med=section-1

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