Blinken, Marcos and Manalo to review US-PH economy, security ties

(From left to right) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (PHOTOS FROM AFP/REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine officials are set to review world developments that affect the two countries’ economy and security.

Blinken is expected to meet with leaders such as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during his visit from March 18 to March 19. In a statement released through the Palace on Tuesday, Manalo said that the visit will bolster US-Philippine relations.

“We intend to review regional and global developments that have significant implications for our mutual security, economic growth, and shared aspirations,” said Manalo in a statement.

While Manalo did not specify which security developments these are, Chinese aggression in the disputed West Philippine Sea has increasingly worsened since Marcos assumed the presidency in 2022.

Following a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in March, Marcos said he was alarmed by the incident but did not see it as a reason to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US.

READ: SCS collision not reason to invoke defense pact with US–Marcos

“We will build on the recent discussions with visiting US officials for deeper and greater economic engagement between our two countries, including during last week’s first-ever Presidential Trade and Investment Mission headed by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo,” he added.

Raimondo visited the country earlier this March to lead the first-ever Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, which was expected to bring in $1 billion in investments.

READ: $1-B investment deals seen in US trade mission

“We are aiming to determine what concrete measures may be undertaken further in order to implement the directives of Presidents Marcos and [Joe] Biden to ensure that our alliance and partnership remains relevant and responsive to current, emerging, and cross-cutting challenges in the defense, security, economic, and people-to-people spheres,” said Manalo.

While he is hopeful that Blinken’s visit will help US-Philippine relations, Manalo said that no deal is set in stone yet between the two countries.

“There are no agreements or understandings anticipated for this visit at this time,” said Manalo.