The Philippines and Australia have committed to beefing up their cyber defense cooperation.

This came as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with the Australian Defense Force (ADF)’s Joint Force Cyber Component (JFCyC) commander, Air Commodore Paul Pettigrew, at the DND main building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday.

“The meeting underscored the shared commitment of the Philippine and Australian governments to advancing cybersecurity and cyber defense cooperation, particularly in light of increasing global cyber threats,” DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Wednesday night.

Also discussed in the meeting were Australia’s “Defend Forward” initiative, the operational role of the ADF’s JFCyC, and potential areas for cyber capacity building and collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND.

“Both sides emphasized the need to deepen the enduring partnership between the Philippines and Australia, particularly in the cyber domain and highlighted that collaboration is needed not only at the tactical level, but also in governance and strategic planning,” Andolong said.

Meanwhile, Pettigrew reaffirmed Australia’s readiness to support the Philippines’ efforts to build secure and interoperable cyber defense systems and to strengthen cooperation through sustained dialogue, skills development, and joint cybersecurity initiatives.

He also introduced JFCyC, established in 2024, which is responsible for the integrated planning and execution of cyber operations as a coherent element of Australian military power.

“The Australian side also provided insights into the ADF’s cyber force structure, emerging concepts of cyber power, and the vision of cyber as a unifying domain. Air Commodore Pettigrew noted the growing linkages being established by the JFCyC with public service sectors, industry partners, and international allies, further reinforcing the strategic value of multilateral cyber collaboration,” Andolong added.

Both parties concluded the meeting with a shared vision of deepening bilateral defense ties and promoting a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific Region. (PNA)