South Korea and the Philippines have agreed to expand bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, focusing on joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, and equipment modernization programs, Anadolu Agency reported, citing a statement from South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on the sidelines of the 2026 Seoul Defense Dialogue in Seoul.
According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, both sides pledged to strengthen institutional consultations and broaden defense industry collaboration beyond existing naval and aerospace procurement programs, following up on framework agreements established during a bilateral summit in March.
During the talks, Ahn highlighted the operational capabilities of South Korean land, naval, and air systems, requesting Manila’s support for South Korean defense contractors seeking to participate in upcoming phases of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program. Teodoro noted South Korea’s defense industrial capabilities and expressed Manila’s intent to broaden the bilateral procurement partnership.
The defense chiefs also agreed to increase personnel exchanges, conduct joint military exercises, and enhance cooperation on international peacekeeping operations, with Ahn pledging South Korean support for the Philippines as this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair. The meeting marked the second ministerial defense discussion between the two countries this year, following bilateral talks held in Singapore in June.
AA