27 August 2015 - On his maiden voyage to the Philippines as the new United States Pacific Command (US PACOM) Commander, Admiral Harry Harris met with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario at the Malacañang Palace on August 26.

Secretary del Rosario and Admiral Harris exchanged views on how to further strengthen the long-standing alliance between the Philippines and the US. They also discussed the current regional security environment, and agreed on the need to jointly protect freedom of the seas and oppose unilateral actions that aim to change the status quo.

Secretary del Rosario welcomed the assurances of Admiral Harris of the Pacific Command’s continued support for the Philippines, particularly in the attainment of its national security goals.

Admiral Harry Harris assumed the leadership of the US Pacific Command on May 27.

He is the highest Asian-American in the US military, and was the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 2013 to May 2015. END