Australia’s Deputy PM to visit Philippines this week

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will visit the Philippines this week, the Australian government said Tuesday.

In a statement, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister said that Australia and the Philippines "are committed to elevating [their] relationship to a Strategic Partnership, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed on last November."

Marles, who is also defense minister, will meet with Marcos Jr., Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr., and other senior government representatives.

He will also visit Bangkok to meet with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Australia said it is committed to working with the Philippines and Thailand to support a stable, prosperous, and resilient Indo-Pacific region, with The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its core.

“I look forward to the opportunity to deepen Australia’s engagement with the Philippines and Thailand, including through our important cooperation on defense and security,” said Marles. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News