Speaking after the U.S.-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the shared interests between the Philippines with the U.S., as the two countries launched the biggest joint drills yet in the South China Sea the day before. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin added that this meeting came at a “historical moment” in their alliance, in efforts to bring greater security to the Indo-Pacific region.