(From left to proper) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Overseas Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (PHOTOS FROM AFP/REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine officers are set to evaluation world developments that have an effect on the 2 international locations’ financial system and safety.
Blinken is predicted to fulfill with leaders similar to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Overseas Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo throughout his go to from March 18 to March 19. In an announcement launched via the Palace on Tuesday, Manalo mentioned that the go to will bolster US-Philippine relations.
“We intend to evaluation regional and international developments which have important implications for our mutual safety, financial development, and shared aspirations,” mentioned Manalo in an announcement.
Whereas Manalo didn’t specify which safety developments these are, Chinese language aggression within the disputed West Philippine Sea has more and more worsened since Marcos assumed the presidency in 2022.
Following a collision between Chinese language and Philippine vessels in March, Marcos mentioned he was alarmed by the incident however didn’t see it as a purpose to invoke the Mutual Protection Treaty with the US.
READ: SCS collision not purpose to invoke protection pact with US–Marcos
“We’ll construct on the current discussions with visiting US officers for deeper and higher financial engagement between our two international locations, together with throughout final week’s first-ever Presidential Commerce and Funding Mission headed by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo,” he added.
Raimondo visited the nation earlier this March to steer the first-ever Presidential Commerce and Funding Mission to the Philippines, which was anticipated to usher in $1 billion in investments.
READ: $1-B funding offers seen in US commerce mission
“We’re aiming to find out what concrete measures could also be undertaken additional with the intention to implement the directives of Presidents Marcos and [Joe] Biden to make sure that our alliance and partnership stays related and attentive to present, rising, and cross-cutting challenges within the protection, safety, financial, and people-to-people spheres,” mentioned Manalo.
Whereas he’s hopeful that Blinken’s go to will assist US-Philippine relations, Manalo mentioned that no deal is ready in stone but between the 2 international locations.
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“There are not any agreements or understandings anticipated for this go to right now,” mentioned Manalo.