August 31, 2026
VICTORIA, British Columbia — OCJCS Spokesperson Joe Holstead provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met for the first time with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Antonio Nafarrete on Aug. 31 during the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The leaders discussed the enduring strength and historic modernization of the U.S.–Philippine Alliance, including efforts to deepen interoperability and operational readiness, strengthen joint posture, and build real capability on both sides.
The leaders reaffirmed their shared determination to strengthen deterrence and maintain stability in the South China Sea, underscoring that a durable alliance rests on shared responsibility, operational readiness, and the ability of U.S. and Philippine forces to respond together to regional security challenges.