FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in Washington for the first time and discussed how to further strengthen Philippines and United States (US) partnership, including their defense alliance.

Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez in a statement said the meeting allowed Cayetano the opportunity to share with Pompeo the independent foreign policy of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as its position on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and the Korean Peninsula.