By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In response to various developments that continue to place a premium on defense and military ties between nations, the Philippines continues to lean into its partnerships with allied nations to maintain a defensive posture that is ready to respond in the face of adversity.
This, as the Department of National Defense (DND) championed cross-regional convergence during the sidelines of the 2026 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum (PDSF).
During the event, DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Chair of the Military Committee (CMC) Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, with whom he exchanged ideas about the Southeast Asian nation’s goal to enhance interoperability with the EU and NATO member countries.
Secretary Teodoro cited the move as part of laying the groundwork for improved exchanges among countries to combat evolving and omnipresent challenges to global security and stability.
Moreover, this initiative intends to help protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino communities in other parts of the world, should conflicts erupt in any nation.
Admiral Cavo Dragone affirmed NATO’s willingness to pursue cooperation with the Philippines. Both officials acknowledged the importance of sharing information and best practices as inter-regional partners converge to mitigate the threats to the prevailing international order.
The Paris Defence and Strategy Forum is a major international conference spearheaded by the Defence Academy of the École militaire (ACADEM), with French and international civilian and military experts engaging in high-level talks and discussing geopolitical developments to address threats to security and defense.
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