The Philippines and the European Union have agreed to launch a security and defense dialogue aimed at addressing emerging challenges such as cyber threats and foreign interference, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo announced on Monday.

The statement was made during the visit of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to Manila, where she met with Manalo and paid a courtesy call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Manalo said the planned dialogue would help both parties stay proactive and unified in confronting cross-border threats, particularly in cyberspace and the spread of disinformation.

Kallas described the initiative as a "dedicated platform" for enhancing defense collaboration, exchanging security expertise, and exploring joint projects. The dialogue will form part of the broader Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed between the Philippines and the EU, which began in 2012 and came into force in 2018.

Kallas reaffirmed the EU's support for a rules-based international order, peaceful conflict resolution, and joint efforts to address tensions in the South China Sea and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through coercion", she said, when asked about the EU’s stance on China’s activities in Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China asserts broad territorial claims in the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.

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