Marcos, US senators tackle defense, economic cooperation, agriculture in Washington meeting

WASHINGTON - President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with members of the US Senate on Wednesday, where they discussed various issues, including security, defense, agriculture, climate change mitigation, economic cooperation, and cyber security.
 
Marcos expressed gratitude to Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, and other members of the panel for welcoming his delegation to Capitol Hill.
 
He also thanked them for the frank and productive discussions on the state of Philippines-US relations.
 
Marcos said engagements between Manila and Washington should not only take place at the executive level but also with members of the legislature.
 
He said defense and security engagement remain the key pillars of Philippines-US relations. He lauded the US’ willingness to work with the Philippine government “as an equal, sovereign partner."
 
Marcos also expressed the Philippines’ intention to deepen cooperation with the US in the areas of supply chain, health security, environment, energy security, and interconnectivity.
 
The meeting was part of the President’s official visit to Washington and followed a series of high-level dialogues with US President Joseph Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris.
 
Joining the President in the meeting were Speaker Martin Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
 
Menendez was joined by Senator James Risch as well as other officials of the Senate committee. —VBL, GMA Integrated News