Overview

• Pete Hegseth will visit the Philippines on March 28-29, marking his first trip to the Indo-Pacific region as US Defense Secretary.
• The visit will include meetings with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss regional security concerns.
• Talks will focus on China's assertive actions in the South China Sea and enhancing US-Philippine military cooperation under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
• The upcoming Balikatan military exercises, scheduled for April 21 to May 9, will feature the US-made Typhon missile system and involve 16,000 troops from multiple nations.
• China has criticized US involvement in the South China Sea, calling it a regional issue and warning against actions that could disrupt stability.