The Philippine ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, indicated that trilateral defense talks involving the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Japan—referred to as the “Squad”—may take place next month ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila. This informal alliance is part of a broader U.S.-led strategy to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a recent interview, Romualdez outlined hopes that ASEAN could transform into a security bloc resembling NATO, capable of managing its own defense matters. He emphasized the efficiency of a collective regional security framework, given the shared geographic proximity and challenges faced by ASEAN members. Such integration, he suggested, would enable ASEAN to negotiate more unified agreements with major powers like China and the United States, extending beyond economic cooperation to include defense and military coordination.
The proposed Squad meetings would precede key regional events, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is expected to attend APEC and hopes for at least informal discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even if no formal bilateral meeting is planned. Simultaneously, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)—comprising the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India—will hold its first leaders’ summit in over two years in the Philippine capital, underlining the increasing institutionalization of U.S.-backed regional partnerships.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the upcoming Quad leaders’ meeting, reaffirming the Biden administration’s ongoing strategy of establishing a “latticework” of coalitions aimed at countering China. The Squad and Quad meetings follow several prior defense engagements, including a Squad defense minister meeting in Singapore in June 2023 and subsequent defense cooperation talks involving military officials from member states.
Despite Romualdez’s optimism, there remains internal debate regarding ASEAN’s potential as a military alliance. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. dismissed the idea in 2024, citing deep-seated divergences and varied national interests within ASEAN that complicate efforts to develop unified defense mechanisms.
Romualdez also addressed concerns about the stability of U.S. security commitments in the region amid shifting priorities under the Trump administration. While acknowledging the need for regional partners to assume greater responsibility for their defense, he asserted that the Philippines has seen no indication of declining American support. He stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen the Philippine armed forces to ensure self-defense capabilities in any potential crisis.
On the sensitive issue of Taiwan, Romualdez reiterated Manila’s adherence to the one-China policy and ruled out any Philippine involvement in a Taiwan-related conflict, distinguishing his stance from that of Defense Secretary Teodoro, who has taken a more defiant approach toward Chinese warnings over Manila’s interactions with Taiwan. Romualdez highlighted the Philippines’ significant migrant workforce of approximately 250,000 individuals based in Taiwan as the primary point of concern in the event of regional instability.
The upcoming meetings and ongoing dialogues underscore the complex balancing act facing ASEAN countries and their allies as they navigate rising geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.