‘WE WANT TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER’ German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius meets his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday for bilateral talks on strengthening security ties between the two nations. —Richard A. Reyes
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday thanked Germany for its continued support to the Philippines as he underscored the importance of partnership among nations in addressing geopolitical issues, particularly the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
He conveyed the country’s gratitude to Berlin during German Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius’ courtesy call at Malacañang, a day after the announcement of a defense agreement between the Philippines and the European country.
READ: Philippines, Germany agree to broaden defense agreement
“In the last few years, in terms of European representation … we always look to our partners and our allies, for support and we are grateful to Germany for continuing to support the rules-based international law that we all abide by,” Marcos said in welcoming Pistorius, the first German defense minister to visit the country.
During a meeting between Pistorius and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday, both sides committed to signing a defense cooperation arrangement this year and supporting the international rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region amid mounting tensions in the WPS.
Pistorius told the President that they already sent a draft a few weeks ago and would continue to finalize it.
“It is necessary even more than ever before to work together, to stand together, to support rules-based international order, because all of us know and we experience every day that the security of one region is always at the same time the security and stability of the other region,” he said. —Tina G. Santos
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