MANILA, Philippines –
Joint Staff Spokesperson Joseph Holstead provided the following readout:
On November 5, 2025, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during a visit to Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines.
During the meeting, Gen. Caine and Gen. Brawner emphasized the enduring strength of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, highlighting its strategic importance in addressing both regional security challenges and global threats. Their discussion focused on expanding military collaboration and joint exercises, with an emphasis on strengthening cooperation with other regional partners such as Australia and Japan. The leaders also discussed ongoing coordination on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response efforts, with Gen. Caine expressing condolences for the AFP aircrew whose lives were lost during Typhoon Tino disaster response.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific, recognizing the U.S.-Philippine Alliance as a cornerstone of regional security. They underscored their shared determination to re-establish deterrence in the region and maintain stability in the South China Sea.
The United States remains fully committed to its ironclad alliance with the Philippines, grounded in shared democratic values and a mutual interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders agreed on the importance of enhancing the interoperability of U.S. and Philippine forces to ensure both nations are prepared to respond to emerging threats and uphold regional security.