President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are welcomed by Australia Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts and other officials as they arrived at Melbourne Airport, Australia last March 3, 2024. (PPA POOL)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s term has yet to reach its midway point—but many say that foreign trips have become a defining feature of his administration.
With every foreign travel announcement from Malacañang stirring conversation online, INQUIRER.net has compiled a list of Marcos’ foreign travels and its highlights.
2022
1.) Indonesia – Marcos’ first trip abroad as a President was to Indonesia for a state visit from September 4 to 6, 2022. Key agreements in defense and trade, among others, were discussed by the two presidents, including a comprehensive Plan of Action on both nations’ bilateral priorities in the coming years.
2.) Singapore – After Indonesia, Marcos flew directly to Singapore for separate engagements with former Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and incumbent Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from September 6 yo 7. During the visit, Marcos attended economic briefings and business meetings to encourage investments and generate more job opportunities in the country.
3.) United States – Marcos, who is supposedly not allowed on US territory due to a contempt order from the US Court of Appeals, was able to set foot in New York for the 77th United Nations General Assembly from September 18 to 24, 2022. A triumphant Marcos was allowed to enter the US due to his status as a head of state, which granted him diplomatic immunity.
4.) Singapore – Days after Super Typhoon Karding devastated the country, Marcos went on an unannounced visit to Singapore from September 30 to October 2, 2022. The President attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix Race. Marcos only confirmed the trip on October 3, 2022, saying that it was a “productive weekend” as he met “new business friends” open to investing in the country.
5.) Cambodia – From November 10 to 13, 2022, Marcos attended the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summits and other related summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, his first Asean Summit as Philippine president. Marcos called his travels a chance to introduce himself as the “new kid in town”.
6.) Thailand – The President went to Thailand for the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from November 16 to 19, 2022. The Apec Summit was Marcos’ first as president and also the first in-person meeting of Apec economies’ leaders since 2018.
7.) Belgium – For Marcos’ final foreign trip in 2022, he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium from December 12 to 14, 2022. Marcos met with several leaders during his visit, including King Philippe of Belgium.
2023
1. ) China – The President kicked off 2023 with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his trip from January 3 to 5, 2023, Marcos and Xi agreed to establish a direct communication line regarding issues in the West Philippine Sea. A total of 14 bilateral deals were also signed during the trip.
2.) Switzerland – A week after his first foreign trip in 2023, Marcos flew to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum upon the invitation of its founder Klaus Schwab in 2022. During the forum, Marcos presented the state of the Philippine economy and the initiatives being undertaken to make the country more conducive for business. Marcos was the only leader from the Asean present in the forum.
3.) Japan – From February 8 to 12, 2023, Marcos went to Japan for a state visit that focused on economic development and mutual defense. Marcos said that the trip was essential and different because, unlike in his other foreign trips where he just “opened up the conversations,” interactions with the government in Japan had already been developed prior.
4.) US – Marcos embarked on his second trip to the US from April 30 to May 4, 2023, where he met with US President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. The presidents discussed military cooperation agreements between the US and the Philippines, along with the latter’s economic agenda.
5.) United Kingdom – Direct from his trip to the US, Marcos went straight to London on Mar 5, 2023 to attend the coronation of King Charles III, whom Marcos said he “personally knows.” This is the first time that a Philippine president has appeared as a guest at a monarch coronation in the United Kingdom. Marcos also met with the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the event.
6.) Indonesia – Two days after arriving from the UK, Marcos flew to Indonesia on May 9 to attend the 42nd Asean Summit. Marcos met with other leaders of Asean and discussed pressing issues of common concerns, such as developments in the South China Sea.
7.) Malaysia – On July 25 to 27, 2023, Marcos had a state visit to Malaysia a day after his second State of the Nation Address upon the invitation of then King of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. During his trip, Marcos had a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on areas in which the two countries can work together.
8.) Indonesia – Marcos went to Indonesia for the second time in 2023 to attend the 43rd Asean Summit. From September 4 to 7, 2023, Marcos spoke to other regional leaders and raised the topic of the South China Sea during the Summit and reiterated that the Philippines will continue to uphold its right to “navigate in the disputed waters.”
9.) Singapore – Upon the invitation of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Marcos returned to Singapore on September 13 to attend another Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix race. The President also gave a talk at the Milken Institute’s 10th Asian Summit.
10.) Saudi Arabia – Marcos went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from October 19 to 20, 2023 for the 2023 Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. In his return to the Philippines, Malacañang said that the Philippines and Saudi Arabia signed a $4.2 billion worth of investment agreements.
11.) US – From November 14 to 20, Marcos went to three cities in the US in one week. In San Francisco, Marcos attended another Apec Summit, which was followed by a working visit to Los Angeles and a visit to the Indo-Pacific command in Honolulu. During the trip, Marcos signed a nuclear agreement, welcoming American exports of nuclear fuel and other equipment.
12.) Japan – For his last trip of 2023, Marcos went to Tokyo, Japan on December 15 to 18 for the 50th Year of Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Marcos met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a bilateral meeting and participated in Asean engagements which called for peace and a rules-based order in addressing the tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
This trip marked Marcos’ 19th foreign visit since he became the president.
2024
1.) Brunei – Marcos’ first trip for 2024 was to Brunei for the wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei on January 14, 2024. The President was joined by other Southeast Asian leaders like former Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
2.) Vietnam – The President went to Vietnam on January 29 for a state visit, where he spoke with President Võ Văn Thưởng. Marcos’ first trip to Vietnam resulted in a five-year rice trade agreement.
3. Australia – On February 29, 2024, the President went to Canberra to address the Australian Parliament. During his meeting, Marcos called Australia the Philippines’ partner in guarding international order.
4.) Australia – Marcos would return to Australia within three days for the Asean-Australia Special Summit on March 3 to 6, 2024. A total of 10 memorandums of understanding were signed between Filipino and Australian business leaders.
5.) Germany – Marcos would go on a weeklong trip to Central Europe from March 11 to 17. In Germany, Marcos met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as different business leaders from the country. Marcos brought home $4 billion worth of investment pledges.
6.) Czech Republic – Straight from Germany, Marcos went to the Czech Republic for a state visit. There, he met with Czech President Petr Pavel, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová. Marcos also oversaw a deal to give Filipino workers more protection in the country.
7.) US – On April 11, Marcos is headed to Washington D.C. for a trilateral meeting with the US and Japan. Marcos will meet with Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden to discuss their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (with reports / research from Barbara Gutierrez, INQUIRER.net intern)