Teodoro Opens PALS 2025 as Philippines, U.S. Reaffirm Regional Defense Ties
By KLT
July 8, 2025 | Manila, Philippines
Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. formally opened the 25th Philippine Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) on Tuesday, underscoring the critical role of trust-based alliances in preserving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Held at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City, PALS 2025 convenes senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, including Marine Corps officers, naval infantry, and defense partners, for high-level strategic dialogue and regional cooperation. The three-day symposium runs from July 8 to 10.
“It is incumbent upon your defense leaders and your heads of state to build as much possible mass in like-minded partnerships, building trust and confidence,” Secretary Teodoro said in his keynote speech. “With collective action, collective purpose, and collective resolve, we then deter any unilateral attempt to reshape the world order into a less free one and a less participative one where rights of people are sacrificed.”
The event comes at a time of rising tensions in the South China Sea and growing concerns over coercive tactics by major powers in contested waters. In response, Teodoro reiterated the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to international law, sovereignty, and a rules-based order, citing adherence to the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“That is the essence of what Philippine defense diplomacy is—keeping true to the UN Charter, keeping true to UNCLOS, and resisting any attempt by coercion, co-option, or any form of pressure to force the Philippines or any country to renounce their rights freely and fairly,” he added.
Co-hosted by the Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific, the symposium features a series of key leader engagements, panel discussions, and briefings focused on issues such as maritime information operations, the integration of emerging technologies in littoral operations, and logistical challenges in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Among the notable attendees were Major General Vicente Map Blanco III, Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, and Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
Now on its 25th year, PALS remains a cornerstone of amphibious and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, promoting regional security through defense diplomacy, professional military exchanges, and enhanced interoperability among partner nations.
