Marcos lauds Australian PM Albanese's stance vs. nuclear weapons

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday hailed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's stance against the use of nuclear weapons.

Marcos made the remark as he addressed the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

"I salute Prime Minister Albanese's personal commitment to our vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. It is a commitment that is shared by all peoples of Southeast Asia with those of Australia and the Pacific Island States," Marcos said.

"Through the treaties of Bangkok and Rarotonga, our two regions serve as pockets of freedom from these destructive weapons. Within the ambit of the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, our two countries are champions of nuclear disarmament and advocates for nuclear risk reduction," he added.

Marcos made a commitment that the Philippine government would collaborate closely with Australia to strengthen international security and universal adherence to international humanitarian law.

Marcos added that the collaboration with the United Nations "demonstrates the need to continue to build bridges and to forge consensus towards decisive multilateral solutions."

"We cannot allow geopolitics to paralyze global governance," the Philippine president said.

In the joint press statement with Albanese, Marcos acknowledged Australia's indisputable role as a regional stabilizer.

"As a flourishing democracy and a staunch advocate of the rules-based order and rule of law, Australia responsibly discharges its economic and strategic capacity, thereby sustaining the regional framework that has allowed us to experience unprecedented growth and peace," Marcos said.

Also on Thursday, the Philippines and Australia signed three agreements expected to enhance the interoperability between the two countries' maritime environment. — VDV, GMA Integrated News