DND chief Teodoro says Shangri-La dialogue vital in de-escalating regional, global tensions

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in de-escalating regional and international tensions.

“Let me put forward that the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue is a vital venue to discuss and debate divergent positions on numerous issues, critical challenges, and emerging concerns,” Teodoro said.

“Most important, however, we are all here to collectively manage, mitigate, and to reinvigorate the process of de-escalating regional and international tensions,” he added.

Teodoro said he would reiterate the policies and pronouncements of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. about security and defense matters during his engagements with various senior government officials, policymakers, scholars, and other dialogue participants.

Teodoro will be meeting with his various counterparts and senior government officials at the sidelines of the defense summit where they will be engaging in discussions of strategic concerns among their countries.

Marcos will deliver the keynote address on Friday, May 31. The President sees the defense dialogue as significant as this recognizes the current challenges being faced by the Philippines in the region.—RF, GMA Integrated News