Blinken to meet with Bongbong Marcos during PH visit on August 6

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday said Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States (US) will visit the Philippines to meet with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as well as Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo on August 6.

“They are expected to discuss bilateral efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Philippines alliance, including through increased cooperation on energy, trade, and investment, advancing shared democratic values, and pandemic recovery,” said DFA in an advisory.

According to the US Department of State, Blinken’s visit to the Philippines is part of his 10-day trip to several countries from August 2 to 11.

READ: US Secretary of State Blinken to travel to southeast Asia, Africa next week

He will be arriving in Manila from Cambodia, which is his first stop.

After his engagements in the Philippines, the U.S. official will then embark on a visit to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.

This comes a month after Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also met with Marcos as well as senior officials “to discuss new ways to deepen” the alliance between Manila and Washington.

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