Philippines Eyes Strategic Defense Cooperation with Ukraine at Shangri-La Dialogue
During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kozenko to discuss prospects for deepening bilateral defense cooperation. The meeting reflects Manila’s growing interest in strategic engagement beyond its traditional partners, particularly amid shifting global security dynamics.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to The Manila Times.
According to Philippine Defense Department spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, Secretary Teodoro expressed admiration for the Ukrainian people's resilience in the face of war and offered prayers for their continued strength. In return, Kozenko thanked the Philippines for its consistent support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A key outcome of the meeting was the announcement that Ukraine will soon assign a defense attaché to its embassy in Manila – a move aimed at strengthening defense diplomacy and enhancing practical cooperation between the two nations.
Both sides signaled mutual interest in knowledge exchange: the Philippines is keen to learn from Ukraine’s defense technology innovations, while Ukraine is exploring the Philippines' experience in maritime disaster response and post-trauma recovery.
“The two delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to international law, including Ukraine’s strict adherence to the Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in wartime,” Andolong said.
The bilateral meeting took place alongside Teodoro’s engagements with defense officials from Japan and the Netherlands, reflecting the Philippines’ evolving strategy to diversify its security partnerships amid growing tensions in the South China Sea and broader Indo-Pacific region.
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