Marcos sees non-traditional defense alliances with Europe

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives at the leaders’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Indonesia. (File photo from AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is considering the possibility of forging defense alliances with Europe.

In a meeting with United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary James Spencer Cleverly in Malacañang on Tuesday, Marcos said there is a new development in terms of security and defense.

“It is not traditional for us to look to Europe… to seek alliances and partnerships, especially when it comes to security and defense,” the Philippine leader told Cleverly.

“But that seems to be the evolution of geopolitics these days, so it is a welcome evolution in my view,” he said.

While Marcos did not give details on these new military initiatives, his administration has repeatedly asserted Philippines’ sovereignty over West Philippine Sea.

For his part, Cleverly said after meeting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, he realized that UK and Philippines share many similar interests.

“Comparing notes on our two countries’ various positions on things, it was really a kind of an audit of two countries that are, I think instinctively, very much like-minded, with very, very similar attitudes to world affairs, and very similar appetites to try and make the most of the bilateral relationship, as well as the UK’s focus on Southeast Asia,” Cleverly told the Chief Executive.

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