Philippines and U.S. strengthen alliance against China.
The US and the Philippines have agreed to modernize and strengthen their alliance, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III reiterating the US' ironclad commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty. The two nations are deepening coordination and interoperability at all levels, with discussions on expanding operational cooperation in the maritime domain, including the South China Sea. The two defense leaders also discussed new bilateral defense guidelines to address conventional and nonconventional threats.