Marcos leaves for Germany on March 12

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Thursday. Baerbock is on an official visit to the country from January 11 to 12. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications Office Facebook)

During a meeting on Thursday with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at Malacañang, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that he would travel to Germany on March 12.

Baerbock, who also met with his counterpart Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, is in the Philippines as part of trips to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Marcos said that Malacañang had been in contact with the German Embassy in Manila in the past months because “we have been trying to arrange a visit to Germany.”

“I am sure that, after the visit to Berlin, many things will develop. We will be requiring your presence here more and more,” he added.

Marcos is also visiting Vietnam this month. Since assuming office in June 2022, the President has embarked on 19 foreign trips, 12 of them in 2023. —NESTOR CORRALES