Manila 6 August : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr that ties between the two countries were “extraordinary” during his trip to Manila on Saturday.The US president emphasized Washington’s support for the two nations the mutual defence agreement, Blinken said that the US was thankful to and was looking forward to working with the Marcos Jr administration to “deepen” the partnership with the Philippines according to the DPA news agency.
This is the first time Blinken has traveled to the Southeast Asian nation as Secretary of State.
“Our relationship is truly extraordinary because it’s rooted in friendship” he said.”It’s also forged in alliances and is bolstered because it’s an alliance too.”
“The Alliance is solid and I am convinced that we will be (be) more powerful.We’re committed to the bilateral defense treaty.We’re determined to work with you to tackle common issues,” he added.
Marcos Jr said recent regional and global tensions, including the recent visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscored the significance of relations between Manila and Washington.
“I hope that we can continue to improve our relationship in the in the face of all of the change we have seen and the shifts in the bilateral relations between us and the US,” he said.
Marcos Jr said he saw the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, which requires both the US as well as the Philippines to assist each other in the scenario of foreign aggression, and to be “in continuous evolution”.
“We cannot separate one aspect of our bond from the other,” he added.”We are just too close.”
