Manila, Philippines — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to arrive in the Philippines next week, marking his first trip to the Indo-Pacific region since taking office under President Donald Trump’s administration. The visit, scheduled for March 28-29, 2025, aims to bolster U.S.-Philippine defense ties and address escalating tensions in the South China Sea, a Philippine official confirmed on Friday, March 21, 2025.
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Hegseth will meet with his counterpart, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila. The discussions will focus on countering Beijing’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea, alongside plans for “more significant support” to the Philippine security forces from the Trump administration, according to Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez in an interview with The Associated Press.
“It’s a strong message to China on solid bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Philippines,” Romualdez said, underscoring the strategic importance of Hegseth’s visit. The South China Sea, a vital global trade route and resource-rich region, remains a flashpoint of contention. China claims nearly the entire waterway, overlapping with claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. In recent years, confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces have intensified, raising fears of broader conflict.
The visit comes as Trump’s “America First” foreign policy has sparked uncertainty about the depth of U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Hegseth’s trip signals an effort to reassure allies amid these concerns. In his first call with Teodoro on February 5, 2025, Hegseth “reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and its importance for maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot reported. The treaty obligates the U.S. to defend the Philippines if its forces, ships, or aircraft face an armed attack in the Pacific, including the South China Sea—a stance the Biden administration repeatedly emphasized following major territorial clashes in the region.
During that February call, Hegseth and Teodoro discussed “reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea, including by working with allies and partners,” Ullyot noted. They also explored ways to enhance the capability and capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a priority as Manila seeks to modernize its military in response to regional threats.
China, however, has sharply criticized U.S. involvement. Beijing has warned Washington to refrain from interfering in what it deems a “purely Asian dispute,” accusing the U.S. of destabilizing regional harmony. Chinese officials have defended their actions in the South China Sea as lawful and necessary to protect national sovereignty, often citing historical claims rejected by a 2016 international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines.
Hegseth’s visit, the first leg of his Indo-Pacific tour, underscores the Trump administration’s intent to maintain a robust presence in the region despite its domestic-focused rhetoric. For the Philippines, the talks offer a chance to secure greater military assistance and reinforce its position against China’s maritime advances. As tensions persist, the outcome of these discussions could shape the balance of power in one of the world’s most contested waterways.
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