MANILA – On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with top U.S. diplomat and defense officials in Malacañang as the Philippines and the United States seek to further strengthen their alliance against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos Jr. welcomed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who are in Manila to meet their Philippine counterparts, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, for the 4th Philippine-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) held on July 30.
“Welcome back to the Philippines. I am always very happy that these communication lines are very open so that all the things we are doing together in terms of our alliance, particularly in the context of our situation here in the West Philippine Sea and the Indo-Pacific, are continuously examined and re-examined. This ensures we are agile in our responses,” Marcos Jr. told Blinken and Austin.
The President’s comments highlight the urgency and importance of the U.S.-Philippine alliance in countering China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has faced increased maritime harassment from Chinese vessels, threatening the sovereignty and security of the region.
Secretary Blinken called the 2+2 meetings “genuinely historic,” noting that it is the first time the Philippines has hosted the dialogue. “It’s really evidence of a steady drumbeat of very high-level engagements between our countries, covering the full range of issues and opportunities that bring us together, not only in security but also in economic terms. We are truly grateful for this partnership,” he said.
Secretary Austin acknowledged the recent gains of the two allied countries in strengthening their bilateral relationship. “We have common interests and values, and I think we’ve done a lot over the last three and a half years to continue to strengthen our alliance. We look forward to working with you and your team to move even further,” he said. “Thanks for your leadership, Mr. President. It’s been a great three and a half years, and I look forward to another three and a half, or another four, in building and strengthening this relationship.”
President Marcos responded by emphasizing the importance of their ongoing cooperation. “All the things we have done in the previous months have served to make our alliances and partnerships more functional, with open lines of communication. We are doing many more things together,” he said.
The American officials also extended their condolences following the devastation brought by the enhanced monsoon and Typhoon Carina, expressing their willingness to help the Philippines. “Let me start by sending our deepest condolences to all the victims of the recent typhoon and say again, anything we can do to be of assistance, we welcome doing that,” Blinken said.
“Mr. President, let me echo Tony’s comments on the warm welcome. It is great to be back in the country again, and also his offer of condolences for those affected by the storm,” Austin added. “I’ve said many times that we’re more than allies, we’re family, and it always feels that way when working with our colleagues.”
This meeting underscores the critical role of the U.S.-Philippine alliance in addressing regional security challenges, especially in light of China’s increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Strengthening this partnership is vital for maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, countering the threat posed by China’s aggression.
