Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday that the Trump administration intends to boost military ties with the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.

The assurance came during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines, part of Hegseth’s trip to Asia to reaffirm Washington’s «ironclad» commitment to the region under the administration of President Donald Trump.  

«Deterrence is necessary around the world but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese,» Hegseth told Marcos. «Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict, to ensure that there is free navigation whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.»

«Peace through strength is a very real thing,» Hegseth said, praising the Philippines for standing «very firm» to defend its interests in the contested waters.

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China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a major security and global trade route. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims to the resource-rich and busy waters, but confrontations have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the last two years.

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Chinese forces have used powerful water cannons and dangerous maneuvers in the high seas to block what Beijing said were encroachments by Philippine ships into China’s waters. Chinese military aircraft have also approached Philippine patrol planes at alarmingly close distances to drive them away from the Scarborough Shoal, a hotly disputed fishing atoll in the disputed waterway.

Hegseth echoed that pledge by expressing «the ironclad commitment» of Trump and him «to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to the partnership.»

Marcos told the U.S. defense chief that by visiting the Philippines first in Asia, he «sends a very strong message of the commitment of both our countries to continue to work together to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region, within the South China Sea.»

«We have always understood the principle that the greatest force for peace in this part of the world would be the United States,» Marcos said.

Two Philippine Coast Guard ships were reportedly surrounded by Chinese vessels in a tense standoff in the South China Sea on Monday, further raising tensions between the two countries, in South China Sea, Off Philippines on March 24, 2025.  (Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines comes a month before the longtime treaty allies hold their largest annual combat exercises that will include live-fire drills. 

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The defense secretary’s visit comes as he faces calls back home for his resignation for texting attack plans to a Signal group that included top-level U.S. security officials and the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Speaking from the Arctic as Vice President JD Vance prepared for his trip to Greenland to assess U.S. security concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Washington’s ambitions for the Arctic nation had «nothing to do» with Russia. 

«In short, America’s plans in relation to Greenland are serious,» Putin said Thursday during an address to Russia’s Arctic Forum in Murmansk. 

«These plans have deep historical roots,» he continued, according to a BBC report. «And it’s clear that the US will continue to systematically pursue its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.

«As for Greenland, this is a matter for two specific countries,» he added. «It has nothing to do with us.»

TRUMP SAYS ‘WE NEED GREENLAND FOR INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY’ AHEAD OF VANCE TRIP

Putin’s comments coincided with remarks by President Donald Trump, who on Thursday doubled down on his ambitions for the Arctic nation despite international rebuke, and said, «We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it.»

«It’s [an] island from a defensive posture and even offensive posture is something we need,» he told radio host Vince Coglianese. «When you look at the ships going up their shore by the hundreds, it’s a busy place.»

Trump acknowledged he was unsure if the people of Greenland wanted to become U.S. citizens, but he said it was important to «convince them.»

Greenland’s citizens and leadership have repeatedly made clear they are not interested in becoming a part of the U.S. and are seeking full independence from Denmark. 

It is unclear if the vice president will be advancing Trump’s message while visiting the U.S.’ Pituffik Space Force base in northwest Greenland, but Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, quickly changed their itinerary earlier this week upon announcing the planned trip after Greenland’s leaders made clear the Vances were not issued an invitation — sparking a diplomatic uproar.

GREENLAND PM SLAMS UPCOMING VISIT FROM USHA VANCE AS ‘VERY AGGRESSIVE’ PROVOCATION: REPORT

Around 1,000 Greenlanders gather in the city center in Nuuk, Greenland, and march to the U.S. Consulate building located on the outskirts of the city to protest President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the sovereignty of their country on March 15. (Ahmet Gurhan Kartal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

However, as Trump claims the Arctic nation is needed for U.S. security, Russian officials are now touting the idea that Washington and Moscow could expand economic cooperation in the Arctic. 

«We are open to considering different investment opportunities that we can do jointly with the U.S., in certain sectors approved by the Russian government,» Putin’s envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, said according to the BBC report, which also noted the Kremlin official has already been in «direct talks» with the U.S.

«We are open for investment cooperation in the Arctic. That could be in logistics, or other areas beneficial to Russia and to the U.S.,» Dmitriev added. 

Russia has stalled U.S. attempts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine by laying out conditions European nations have made clear they will not agree to, like lifting sanctions and booting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from office — which security experts have long warned is Putin’s chief aim to cement control over the former Soviet nation.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance look on as he is nominated for the office of vice president on the first day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. ( Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Putin reiterated this goal during his address from the Arctic and said, «We could, of course, discuss with the United States, even with European countries, and of course with our partners and friends, under the auspices of the UN, the possibility of establishing a transitional administration in Ukraine.»

It remains highly unlikely Ukraine or its European partners, including France and the U.K. who sit on the UN Security Council, will agree to Putin’s conditions. 

Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

El príncipe Harry fue acusado de “intimidación y acoso” por la presidente de una organización no gubernamental que trabaja en África y que él cofundó, pero de la cual tomó distancia tras un conflicto interno. El hijo menor del rey Carlos III era hasta ahora mecenas de la ONG Sentebale, uno de los pocos compromisos que conservó tras su explosiva ruptura con la monarquía británica en 2020 y la pérdida de su patrocinio real.

El príncipe Harry anunció sin embargo el martes que abandonaba “devastado” la organización benéfica, después de un conflicto entre los administradores y la presidenta del consejo de administración, Sophie Chandauka, nombrada en 2023. “Es devastador que la relación entre los fideicomisarios de la organización benéfica y la presidenta de la junta se haya roto irreparablemente, creando una situación insostenible”, dijeron los príncipes.

Harry y el cofundador, el príncipe Seeiso de Lesoto, dijeron en un comunicado conjunto que renunciaron “con el corazón apesadumbrado” como patrones en apoyo de los fideicomisarios en su disputa con Chandauka.

Chandauka fue también acusada de mala gestión por miembros del consejo de administración, que pidieron su renuncia. El caso se ha remitido a los tribunales.

En una entrevista concedida este domingo a Sky News, Chandauka arremetió directamente contra el príncipe, acusándole de haber hecho todo lo posible para obligarla a abandonar su puesto en la organización.

“Lo que el príncipe Harry quería hacer era expulsarme, y eso duró meses. Se prolongó durante meses, en forma de intimidación y acoso”, afirmó. También aseguró que “tenía pruebas de ello”.

El canal intentó ponerse en contacto con el príncipe, que vive en California con su esposa Meghan y sus dos hijos, pero sin éxito.

Según una fuente anónima cercana a los administradores citada por BBC, éstos “esperaban” lo que describieron como una “maniobra publicitaria” urdida por Chandauka.

Chandauka denunció ayer una cultura del “silencio” en la organización, con miembros de la junta reacios a pronunciarse en contra del duque de Sussex o simplemente a hablar de temas controvertidos.

También se refirió a la pérdida de muchos donantes, que achacó, con documentos justificativos, a la salida del príncipe Enrique de Reino Unido en 2020.

Chandauka habló asimismo de la decisión del príncipe de llevar un equipo de rodaje de la plataforma Netflix -con la que tiene un contrato muy lucrativo- a la recaudación de fondos del año pasado, que se celebró durante un partido de polo.

Las imágenes, que dieron la vuelta al mundo, mostraban una escena bastante extraña entre la presidenta de la organización y la duquesa de Sussex, Meghan, ambos queriendo sostener el trofeo en el escenario.

Tras el episodio, Harry “me pidió hacer como una declaración para apoyar a la duquesa”, dijo Chandauka.

El exdirector del consejo de administración, Kelello Lerotholi, declaró sin embargo a Sky News que nunca había sido testigo de ninguna petición de este tipo por parte del príncipe Harry.

“Puedo decir sinceramente que en las reuniones a las que he asistido nunca ha habido el menor indicio de ello”, afirmó.

Lynda Chalker, que fue miembro del consejo de administración de la organización benéfica africana durante casi 20 años, declaró al periódico The Times que el estilo de Chandauka era “casi dictatorial”.

Harry cofundó Sentebale cuando tenía 21 años, para continuar la labor de su difunta madre, la princesa Diana, profundamente comprometida en la lucha contra el sida. Sentebale trabaja en particular con niños y jóvenes que se quedaron huérfanos por la epidemia de sida en Lesoto, un pequeño país pobre enclavado en Sudáfrica, y en Botsuana.

La organización benéfica, cuyo nombre significa “no me olvides” en el idioma sesotho de Lesoto y Sudáfrica, fue fundada para ayudar a los jóvenes afectados por el SIDA en la pequeña nación montañosa. Pero ahora se está moviendo para abordar la salud, la riqueza y la resiliencia climática de los jóvenes en el sur de África.