President Marcos hails enhanced Philippines-Germany defense cooperation

MANILA, Philippines — The enhanced defense cooperation between the Philippines and Germany is crucial in upholding international law and addressing geopolitical issues, especially in the West Philippine Sea, President Marcos said yesterday.

Marcos made the remarks during his meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at Malacañang, where he also acknowledged the role of Germany and other European nations in becoming one voice against foreign encroachment in the West Philippine Sea.

“But so, again, the partnerships are important, the stability, all, in our case, the South China Sea, the West Philippine Sea, as we refer to it,” Marcos told Pistorius.

“In your case, Central Eastern Europe, really depends on a very solid front, and that front represents, again, international law, and it must be made very clear to all, both allies and adversaries. That is the basis of all that we do, and it’s easily understandable, easily appreciated by, I think, all parties, and everything outside of that will be resisted, and that’s all we can do,” Marcos pointed out.

Pistorius arrived in the Philippines last Saturday for a three-day visit. He is the first German defense minister to visit the Philippines.

Prior to Manila, the German official visited South Korea and Hawaii.

Marcos and Pistorius agreed on the significance of standing together for peace and security in the region.

“Every effort has its place, and (I’m) glad that Germany has come to join, it is remarkable for us to see, but with the different – we now have a Canadian vessel that’s come here to visit, we have French vessels, they’re joining in. Germany was an observer during the last exercises,” Marcos said.

The President noted that the country’s foreign policy is based on two imperatives: peace and national interest.

“It’s not been easy, but it has been something that we can always hang on, there’s a touchstone for us, we know how to deal with perhaps a situation that we had not anticipated,” he said.

Pistorius said Germany supports Marcos’ move to work with other nations to push for international rules-based order in the region.

“And I could not agree more with your assessment with regard to standing together, and standing together for peace and security, and for our interest, and that is the reason why we are engaging,” Pistorius added.

He also told Marcos about Berlin’s Indo-Pacific deployment next year.

“As I always mentioned, during my trip here to the Indo-Pacific, presence matters and presence is key to show to China, or maybe others in the future, that we stand together, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the Philippines, or Europe, or India or whatever it is,” Pistorius said.

The German defense minister met with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro last Sunday, when they agreed to conclude a broader Arrangement on Defense Cooperation as soon as possible.

The two countries intend to explore opportunities to further expand the bilateral armaments cooperation and to engage in joint projects.