DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will be taking part in the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2026 scheduled from Sept. 7 to 9, highlighting the growing defense ties between the two nations.
In a statement on Friday, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro is scheduled to deliver remarks during Plenary Session 1: ‘Collaborative Architecture for International Stability.’
This marks Teodoro’s second consecutive participation in the SDD, following his attendance at the 2025 Dialogue.
On the sidelines of the Dialogue, Andolong said the DND chief will hold a bilateral meeting with South Korean Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyuback to discuss areas of mutual interest and further strengthen the longstanding defense and security partnership between the two countries.
The Philippines and South Korea share longstanding defense ties forged during the Korean War, when Filipino soldiers served alongside United Nations forces.
‘Secretary Teodoro’s participation underscores the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening defense partnerships, advancing regional cooperation, and promoting a peaceful, secure, and stable Indo-Pacific, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s direction to advance the country’s defense engagements,’ Andolong said.
Hosted annually by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, the SDD is a premier multilateral security forum that brings together defense ministers, senior officials, military leaders, experts, and other stakeholders to discuss pressing regional and global security concerns.