Marcos: Shangri-La Dialogue keynote address invite recognizes PH challenges

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei—President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the invitation for him to participate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense and security forum for Asia, was important as this recognizes the challenges currently faced by the Philippines.

"Oh, I think it's highly significant. The invitation in itself is highly significant. The fact that they asked the Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense that it is a recognition that there are challenges that are facing the Philippines," Marcos said during the interview with reporters.

"And not only the Philippines, but this affects the region and it affects the world. So, what I will present in the Shangri-La forum day after tomorrow is going to essentially try to explain the position of the Philippines for both legally and geopolitically and diplomatically," he added.

Marcos also said he would discuss the ways forward for the Philippines and for the region amid the challenges.

"Dati, pinag-uusapan lang Asia-Pacific pero ang West Philippine Sea ay napakahalaga niyan. (Previously, the discussions focused on the Asia-Pacific, but the West Philippine Sea is very important.) It's so important to international trade that we can actually say that the stakeholders—the stakeholders are no longer limited to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Asia, Indo-Pacific," Marcos said.

The President added, "It really involves the global economy already and so that is why I think the Philippines' position is going to be important in the decision-making of many of the policymakers around the world."

Meanwhile, Philippine ambassador Medardo Macaraig said the Singaporean government is very happy that Marcos will attend the dialogue.

''Of course they were happy. It was former Prime Minister Lee who invited President Marcos to be the keynote speaker. And they were happy but I think we are happier,'' Macaraig told reporters in Singapore.

Bilateral meetings will take place at the sidelines of the defense dialogue and one of them is with Lithuania.

Marcos will also meet Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Marcos will deliver the keynote address at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which will take place in Singapore on May 31.

The President's speech will mark the opening of the 21st edition of the dialogue, which is Asia's premier defense summit.

Previous keynote speakers included Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza earlier said that the dialogue will provide a good platform for defense ministers, military chiefs, government officials, and security experts around the world to discuss regional and global security challenges.

For her part, Foreign Affairs Office of the Asian Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said that Marcos is the first Filipino president who will have a keynote address at the dialogue.

"That's why it's a very distinct honor for the President," Mendiola-Rau said. — VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News