Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) — The United States expressed confidence that its longstanding alliance with the Philippines can address emerging threats and challenges in the region.

Responding to the question on whether the treaty between Manila and Washington can address new threats such as cyber attacks, US State Assistant Secretary Daniel Kritenbrink said the alliance can meet modern challenges.

“We are committed to being flexible and adjusting both officials, strategies and peoples and I’m confident that treaty and our alliance relationship can do that,” said Kritenbrink in a forum organized at the De La Salle University on Friday.

“In fact, I would argue that we are already doing that and if you look at the bilateral strategic dialogue, it’s not just focused on security, but it’s virtually focused on every issue from economics, security, trade, people-to-people ties and some of these transnational challenges and I think we are already doing that,” the official added.

Kritenbrink is in the country for the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. The ministerial meetings are policy-level platforms to discuss alliance management and the gamut of political, security, and economic cooperation.

In the same forum, the US official reiterated his country’s support for the Philippines on issues in the South China Sea.

He also presented the US Indo-Pacific strategy for a free and open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient and secure region.