PH Defense Chief Teodoro cites major ASEAN exercises as key ADMM-plus gain

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said joint military exercises, including ASEAN's first interoperability drill on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), were among the biggest achievements highlighted during the recently concluded ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu.

Teodoro cited Exercise Trident Resolve 2026, held in Banten, Indonesia from Sept. 20 to 26, which focused on HADR, military medicine and cybersecurity.

The exercise, the largest ADMM-Plus drill in a decade, involved about 2,200 personnel from 11 ASEAN member states, eight dialogue partners, observer nations and civilian agencies.

He also pointed to the first maritime security cooperative activity held in Subic, Zambales on Sept. 13, which brought together naval vessels from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India, Singapore and Brunei.

Teodoro said the exercises reflect ASEAN's growing defense cooperation and readiness to address evolving security and hybrid threats.