Faisal Mahmud
07 September 2026•Update: 07 September 2026
South Korea and the Philippines agreed Monday to expand defense and arms industry cooperation, including personnel exchanges and joint military exercises, according to Seoul's Defense Ministry.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. in Seoul as the latter visited the country for the 2026 Seoul Defense Dialogue, the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The two agreed to strengthen regular consultations between their defense authorities and expand cooperation in personnel exchanges and joint exercises.
They also pledged to deepen defense industry cooperation beyond existing naval and air weapons programs, following up on agreements reached during a bilateral summit in March.
Ahn highlighted South Korean land, naval, and air weapons systems and sought Manila's support for Korean companies seeking to participate in the Philippines' military modernization program.
Teodoro praised South Korea's defense industry capabilities and expressed hope for an expanded bilateral defense partnership.
Ahn also pledged support for the Philippines as this year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair, including cooperation on peacekeeping operations.
The defense chiefs discussed regional security, with Teodoro expressing support for Seoul's policy of pursuing “peaceful coexistence” on the Korean Peninsula.
It was their second meeting this year following talks in Singapore in June.
