Philippines defense treaties review has been launched by the Department of National Defense (DND) as it scrutinizes agreements made with countries that do not recognize the Philippines’ jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea or align with its foreign policy positions.
DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro confirmed that national security and foreign policy experts are currently evaluating whether these defense treaties offer tangible benefits to the country.
Teodoro noted that the review is already underway and the agency is expected to release more information in the coming days regarding the outcome of the assessment.
He pointed out that some of the defense agreements entered into in previous years appear to lack value or strategic gain for the Philippines.
Preliminary evaluations suggest that around 50 defense agreements and memorandums of understanding may need to be revisited due to their questionable relevance or benefit to the country.
However, Teodoro did not disclose which specific agreements or nations are involved in the reassessment process.
Currently, the Philippines maintains active military and defense partnerships with countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
This policy shift highlights a more assertive and strategic approach to international alliances amid rising geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea.