IRAN intends to develop a more robust defense relationship with the Philippines.
Thus remarked Ambassador Alireza Tootoonchian during his courtesy call at the Department of National Defense (DND) where Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs Franco Nemesio Gacal received the envoy on behalf of Officer In Charge-Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr.
In the meeting Tootoonchian expressed the intent of Iran to develop defense cooperation with the Philippines—particularly in the areas of disaster management and response, counterterrorism, and self-reliant defense posture (SRDP).
“Undersecretary Gacal expressed that the DND is open to exploring engagements in areas of common interest with nontraditional partners such as Iran, in line with the Philippines’s independent foreign policy,” Defense Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
The Iranian diplomat also noted that both countries are prone to natural disasters as well as calamities, and share similar security issues related to terrorism and violent extremism.
Tootoonchian conveyed Iran’s desire to organize high-level visits between both countries’ defense officials.
“In response, Undersecretary Gacal highlighted that strengthening the Philippines’s SRDP is one of the major thrusts of the current administration, emphasizing its significance in enhancing defense and military capabilities in addressing pressing security challenges,” Andolong said. “He also shared the current efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in combatting foreign terrorist fighters and local terrorist groups in the country.”
Both officials are looking forward to developing bilateral defense relations and studying possible areas of cooperation between the two defense and military establishments.