President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed optimism for the continued strengthening of relations between the Philippines and the United States, emphasizing their shared commitment to the rule of international law.
During a telephone call with outgoing US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday evening, Marcos highlighted the significant progress achieved in bilateral ties, particularly in economics, diplomacy, and defense and security.
“As typical with the relationship between the Philippines and the US, it’s on every level, in every facet: economic, diplomatic, and defense and security,” Marcos stated. “The progress that we have made is terribly encouraging, and we just hope to build on that and continue to stand for our shared values and the rule of international law.”
Harris, in turn, reaffirmed the bipartisan support of the US Congress and Washington for enhancing ties with the Philippines, particularly in security, economic prosperity, and people-to-people connections. She also underscored the importance of trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, the US, and Japan to deepen economic collaboration, secure supply chains, and promote regional security.
“As we discussed with President Biden on Sunday, trilateral cooperation with Japan is critical to maintaining security in the South China Sea and advancing shared goals,” Harris said.
Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the US were established on July 4, 1946, with the US recognized as the Philippines’ oldest treaty ally. Defense and security cooperation remain central to their enduring partnership.
The call comes as the Biden-Harris administration prepares to step down on January 20, 2025. President-elect Donald Trump, who defeated Harris in the November 2024 elections, is set to return to the White House for his second term. Both Biden and Harris have been engaging with allies and partners in the lead-up to the leadership transition.