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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
February 16, 2025 | 12:00am
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo meets with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb. 14.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The United States under the new Trump administration is looking to further strengthen its bilateral relations with the Philippines, not only in terms of security but also in other possible areas of development.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo yesterday during the Munich Security Conference to discuss such initiatives.
During the talks, Rubio “not only reaffirmed US commitment to the United States-Philippines alliance, but noted his enthusiasm for building an even more invested and enduring relationship,” US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
According to her, discussions included the ongoing bilateral coordination on addressing China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea (SCS).
Bruce said Rubio and Manalo also talked about “increasing economic cooperation on infrastructure, critical minerals, information technology and energy, including through civil nuclear cooperation.”
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and his US counterpart Secretary Pete Hegseth had their first official conversation through a phone call, to discuss defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US and reestablishing deterrence in the SCS.
Though he did not particularly mention China, Teodoro affirmed and expressed “the importance of deepening defense cooperation to strengthen deterrence against coercive and destabilizing actions in the West Philippine Sea, as well as upholding the rules-based international order.”
Shortly after President Trump reassumed the presidency in January, the Department of National Defense (DND) expressed optimism that the defense alliance between the Philippines and the US will continue to flourish.
“While the review of US assistance is being conducted, the DND and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) continue to pursue the development of our defense capabilities in accordance with our identified needs and priorities,” the DND said.
