South Korea and the Philippines join forces for defense.

Of course, the main contents of a strategic partnership include major cooperation programs, plans, or projects in economics and trade, technology transfer and development, and combating climate change. But even more noteworthy is cooperation in defense and security.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, alongside South Korean Coast Guard Commander Kim Jong-Uk and their Philippine counterpart Ronnie Gil Gavan, after signing several agreements at the Philippine Presidential Palace in Manila.

In these same areas, the two countries have made significant progress and have surpassed their other strategic allies and partners, the United States and Japan. The necessity of upgrading bilateral cooperation to a strategic partnership framework is justified by both sides based on the understanding that the geopolitical environment has become more complex, and only through such collaboration can they ensure prosperous development and maintain a rules-based world order.

While President Yoon Suk Yeol and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. didn't explicitly state it, it's easy to see that upgrading bilateral cooperation is driven by the circumstances and timing for both countries. South Korea has always had to contend with the security challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Meanwhile, the Philippines and China have recently experienced ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. Therefore, joint defense is a key strategy for Seoul and Manila. Such cooperation also helps expand their network of strategic partnerships.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/han-quoc-philippines-lien-thu-cung-phong-thu-185241009234724298.htm