MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is confident that the bilateral ties between the United States and the Philippines will remain unchanged whoever wins in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections.
Although there is “personal relation” between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump, Palace spokesman Harry Roque is confident that Duterte will be able to establish “equally warm personal relations” with Democrat Joe Biden, if he ends up winning the Nov. 3 polls.
“You see the (U.S.) State Department ensures continuity as far as U.S. foreign policy is concerned. So we don’t expect any major changes in bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States,” Roque said Wednesday in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Of course, there is an issue of personal relations but I think given time the President can establish equally warm personal relations with whoever wins this election even it’s not President Trump,” he added.
“And even if there is a new (U.S.) president, I am not saying that there will be, but in case there is a new president in the United States in the person of Senator Biden, I am confident that the President (Duterte) can also develop a close personal friendship with Mr. Biden. May the best man win as of now,” he went on.
Duterte was among the notable world leaders who have been vocal about wanting Trump to remain as U.S. president for four more years.
READ: Duterte among populist leaders openly backing 4 more years of Trump, says US paper
The two leaders, both known for their tough-talking persona, won their respective presidencies with campaigns marked by populist fury against political elites and a spill of controversial remarks.
As early as February, Duterte urged U.S. citizens with Filipino links to vote for Trump.
Asked for his personal take on who will win the U.S. elections, Roque said: “Even U.S. media sources, CNN, Fox are very cautious in making their forecast now. So I think I will follow their lead and really just allow the results to come in.”