The two defense heads have met face-to-face.
Last Thursday, February 20, Secretary of National Defense Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro, Jr. had a meeting with with Jana Černochová, the Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic at the Makati Shangri-La.
According to the defense department, it is pursuant to Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to deepen the country’s defense cooperation.
During their bilateral discussions, both defense chiefs reaffirmed the enduring ties between the Philippines and the Czech Republic, which date back to the establishment of diplomatic relations on October 5, 1973.
The meeting underscored the resumption of the Philippine-Czech Joint Defense Committee (JDC), which convened on February 5, 2025.
Both parties recognized the JDC as a crucial mechanism for enhancing defense cooperation, particularly in capability development, training, and defense industry collaboration.
Apart from which, Sec. Teodoro also hace updates on the security situation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Philippines reiterated that it remains committed to a “peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomatic channels,” while also stressing that continued aggression in the poses a threat to regional peace and stability.
The meeting also marked the first official visit by a Czech Defense Minister to the Philippines, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Manila during World War II in 1945.