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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
February 6, 2025 | 1:18pm
Philippine Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro meets with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific), Catherine West MP, Feb. 3, 2025.
DFA
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United Kingdom are moving to deepen their bilateral ties through new trade, defense and maritime cooperation agreements expected to be concluded this year.
These planned agreements were discussed during the second strategic dialogue between the Philippines and the United Kingdom on Monday, February 3, where both countries' delegations also tackled cooperation in information and communications technology and health sectors.
Philippine Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations Maria Theresa Lazaro and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary Catherine West co-chaired the dialogue, which is part of the "enhanced partnership" launched between the two countries in November 2021.
During the dialogue, Lazaro and West "identified the next milestones of PH-UK bilateral relations" with emphasis on the new agreements that are "expected to be concluded this year, leading towards the commemorative celebration of the 80th anniversary of PH-UK bilateral relations in 2026," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday, February 5.
A Joint Framework Agreement between the two nations is also expected to be signed in March, as both countries prepare for the 80th anniversary of their bilateral relations next year, according to the DFA.
Key meetings. Philippine Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr. and UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beafils joined their respective delegations during the talks, where officials exchanged views on regional and international issues.
On the sidelines, Lazaro met with Owen Jenkins, UK's Director General for Indo-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, to discuss ASEAN-UK cooperation ahead of the Philippines' ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
She also held separate meetings with George Freeman, the new UK Trade Envoy to the Philippines, to explore trade and investment opportunities, and Nick Catsaras, UK Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs, for discussions on regional security matters.
The Philippines expressed appreciation for the UK's continued support in promoting the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region, amid ongoing maritime tensions in the South China Sea.
The "enhanced partnership" between the Philippines and the UK spans five areas of cooperation: political affairs, defense, maritime, economic and trade, and climate and environment.
The UK's stance. The UK has consistently joined other nations in calling out China's dangerous actions toward Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
In September 2024, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and then-US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed concern over China's "dangerous and destabilizing" conduct towards Philippine vessels near Escoda Shoal.
That particular incident saw China's vessels repeatedly ramming a lone Philippine Coast Guard vessel deployed to the feature.
