US Ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, reaffirmed that the alliance between the United States and the Philippines will remain robust and secure, regardless of the results of the November 5, 2024 US presidential election. Carlson emphasized that bipartisan support in the US for the relationship will continue, no matter who wins the presidency.
The US Embassy hosted an election watch party attended by embassy officials, Philippine government representatives, students, and others. In an interview during the event, Carlson expressed her confidence in the durability of US-Philippines ties.
“I’m extremely confident that our relationship will remain steadfast,” Carlson stated. “We will stay steadfast friends, ironclad allies, and partners in prosperity, regardless of who is elected in the United States.”
She added that there is significant bipartisan support in Washington for the US-Philippines alliance. “My counterpart and friend, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel ‘Babe’ Romualdez, has served through multiple US administrations, both Republican and Democratic. His confidence in the strength of our relationship is something I fully share,” Carlson said.
Reflecting on her nearly four decades of experience in the US State Department, Carlson noted that she has witnessed several transitions of power between the two major parties. “In my 39 years, I’ve seen shifts from Republican to Democrat and back again. Throughout, support for foreign military financing and the US-Philippines military alliance has remained strong, with enthusiasm from both sides of the aisle,” she observed.
She highlighted that the relationship extends beyond defense, encompassing economic partnerships and shared prosperity. “Our alliance isn’t only about military cooperation; we’re also firm partners in economic growth,” Carlson said. “This support is resilient and unwavering, across all sectors.”
Carlson further emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to the US. “Whoever wins the presidential election, our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and US-Philippines relations will remain a top priority,” she stated.
Reflecting on the significance of the election watch party, Carlson described it as a “celebration of democracy,” noting that the Philippines shares a similar commitment to democratic values. “The Philippines understands elections deeply—you have a vibrant democracy here, just as we do in the United States,” she said.
Carlson also shared that the US Embassy has been actively assisting thousands of Americans residing in the Philippines to cast their ballots through the federal voting assistance program. Among the roughly 700,000 Americans in the country, many have chosen to retire in the Philippines. Carlson noted that she herself voted early in September in her home state of Virginia.
“Today, as we await the election results, I am confident that our nations’ alliance will remain on solid ground,” she concluded.
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