HEADLINE | MANILA- Teodoro: PH courting ‘non-traditional’ partners for national security, territorial integrity
NEWLY appointed Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines is courting “non-traditional” partners who “will jibe with our national security, territorial integrity and interoperability.”
Teodoro issued the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the former ambassador to look for non-traditional partners in the areas of trade and security and defense.
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Speaking in Filipino, Teodoro said that “as of now, it is but natural to talk to our treaty ally, the United States. We also know, however, that we have been talking to Israel, Japan, Korea and recently to Sweden with whom we signed an MoU that was signed by Secretary Galvez at the Shari-la dialogue.”
“I think the marching order is to look for a proper fit whatever serves our needs and whatever will jibe with our national security, territorial integrity and interoperability with our present complement,” he added.
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