(FILE) EXERCISE ONLY Reclaiming territory from invaders, a US Marine fires a machine gun during an amphibious landing exercise in San Antonio, Zambales province, as part of the annual Philippine-US joint military maneuvers. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — U.S Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. will be discussing mutual security concerns during the former’s visit to the Philippines.
According to the DFA, Locsin and Austin will meet on Friday.
“Secretary Locsin and Secretary Austin will discuss mutual security concerns and how the Philippines and the United States can further strengthen their alliance,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.
Austin is set to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday and will stay until July 30. His visit is part of a three-nation swing through Southeast Asia that includes Singapore and Vietnam.
A proposed itinerary seen by Inquirer.net showed that Austin is also scheduled to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, said the itinerary is still being finalized.