PH, UK seek stronger defense, maritime and trade alliance

The Philippines and the United Kingdom on Tuesday sought to bolster defense, maritime and trade ties under an enhanced partnership agreement amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges facing the region.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and British counterpart James Spencer Cleverly signed a statement of intent that will develop a framework to define the scope and further strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relations.

“The UK is an important long-standing partner of the Philippines, especially in this time of geographic upheavals, economic disruptions, and challenges to the rule of law,” Manalo said in a joint press briefing with Cleverly - the first British foreign secretary to visit the Manila since 2016.

Manalo said Britain’s commitment to enhance its relations with the Philippines “heartens us since it also signals the strengthening of our bilateral ties in trade, investments, security, maritime cooperation, and other fields.”

Cleverly, who also met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, stressed that the UK is intent on building enduring partnerships with the Philippines and like-minded countries across this region “to safeguard security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

“This is an exciting time for our relationship. Our UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership benefits our people, including on climate, trade, science and tech, and shared security,” Cleverly said.

“Our relationship is founded on our shared values, and shared belief in openness, freedom and the rule of law.”

In Malacañang, Marcos said it was not traditional for the Philippine government to look at Europe for security partnerships and alliances

"The new development in terms of security and defense... It is not traditional for us to look to Europe for our… to seek alliances and partnerships when it comes to security and defense," Marcos said.

"But that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days. It is a welcome evolution in my view, and again your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent. So once again, welcome to Manila, welcome to the Philippines, welcome to the Palace," he added.

UNCLOS

Aside from Manalo, Cleverly also met with the Philippine Coast Guard officials and discussed “the work they do to uphold UNCLOS” in the wake of China’s recent water cannon attack on a Philippine re-supply mission in the West Philippine Sea.

UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a 1982 international treaty signed by 160 states, including the Philippines and China, which allows coastal nations the right to explore, manage and exploit resources within 200 nautical miles from their shores.

The UK is one of the countries that denounced the Chinese Coast Guard  attack on Philippine vessels along with the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and France.

“The Philippines and the UK are like-minded partners through our shared values of democracy and the rule of law, our unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, and our pursuit of peace and stability,” Manalo said.

After more than seven decades of diplomatic ties, Manalo said the relationship between the Philippines and the UK “remains strong and robust.”

“It is my hope that our commitment to further elevate our Enhanced Partnership will promote better understanding, and enrich the enduring bonds of friendship between our governments and peoples,” Manalo said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News