The continuous exploration in the working relationship between the Philippines and the US has allowed agile responses of the two countries to regional situations, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.
“I’m always very happy that these communication lines are very open so that all the things that we are doing together, in terms of our alliance, in terms of the specific context of our situation here in the West Philippine Sea and in the Indo-Pacific are continuously examined and re-examined so we are agile in terms of our responses,” President Marcos said.
The Chief Executive made the remarks during the joint courtesy call of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Malacañan Palace. The two US officials are in Manila for the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (2+2 Dialogue).
It is a policy-level dialogue co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) and the US Department of State and Department of Defense.
Secretary Blinken told President Marcos that it is the first time the Philippines has hosted the 2+2 dialogue, which is “really evidence of a steady drumbeat, a very high-level engagement” between the Philippines and the US.
He also said the event covers the full range of issues and opportunities that bring the two countries together “not only security, but also economic.”
“And we are grateful for this partnership. We look forward to a very good day with our colleagues and to further advancing the critical work that we’re doing together. So, thank you again for receiving us,” Blinken said.
For his part, Secretary Austin told President Marcos that the US government looks forward to continuing to strengthen its alliance with the Philippines and to continue to work with the administration.
“I look forward to another three and a half or another four in building – strengthening this relationship,” Austin told President Marcos.
The Philippines-US formal diplomatic relations span 78 years since their formal establishment on July 4, 1946. PND
