DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need to build an international security architecture with human security at its core.
He made this call during the first plenary session of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2026 in South Korea.
Teodoro presented the Philippines’ perspective on building a ‘Collaborative Architecture for International Stability,’ during the plenary session attended by international defense leaders from across regions.
‘The survival of the human being, the care for the human being, care for human rights, care for health, care for freedom from dangers of natural calamities, educational opportunities for mutual understanding under a regime of freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and not state-sponsored lies and state-sponsored brainwashing,’ Teodoro stressed.
Joined by South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Czech Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Jaromír Zuna, Teodoro echoed their observations on the whole gamut of conflicts facing the world at present, which is exacerbated by the existence of devastating natural calamities.
He added that these tragedies have not slowed down conflict, but have only further burdened survivors and made their future more uncertain.
‘In that kind of setting, we see that there is greater urgency in order to enforce a system of norms that will curtail the behavior of aggressive actors,’ the DND chief added, emphasizing that the root cause of these conflicts is aggression fueled by motive and opportunity, at the expense of smaller and archipelagic states.
He explained that these countries are forced to resort to alternative pressures such as legacy defense mechanisms and institutions and coalitions with like-minded states.
‘Yet, the threat of conflict is present. Actual conflict is present, but the threat of war becomes more imminent because of unconstrained and uncontrolled use of might versus right, as the adage goes,’ Teodoro asserted.
He reiterated the Philippine position that it would not compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty, would resist any aggression against Philippine territory, and would continue to uphold its role as a guardian of international law.
‘We will continue our defense modernization and our resilient capabilities together with like-minded partners, this in our own indigenous capabilities and in building up coalitions of like-minded nations,’ the DND chief added.