Manila, March 28 -- As part of the US efforts to establish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region, American Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth said they would deploy "additional capabilities" or weapons in the Philippines.

In a press briefing shortly after his meeting with Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday, Hegseth said this initiative is part of efforts to beef up the military partnership between the two nations.

"We agreed on the next steps to re-establish, and that's key, re-establish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region. These efforts build on an ongoing USD500-million commitment in foreign military financing and other security assistance to support...