Marcos, Harris discuss progressing PH-US relations

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is hopeful that the progressing relations between Manila and Washington will continue as they stand for the rule of international law. 

Marcos said this during a telephone call with outgoing United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday evening. 

Marcos cited the significant progress achieved in the ties between the Philippines and the US, especially in the areas of economics, diplomacy, and defense and security.

"As typical with the relationship between the Philippines and the US, it's on every level, in every facet: on the economic level, on the diplomatic level, and defense and security,” Marcos said. 

"And the progress that we have made is terribly encouraging and we just hope to build on that and continue to work on what we have begun and continue to stand for our shared values and the rule of international law," he added. 

The formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States were established on July 4, 1946.

The US has been considered as the Philippines' oldest and only treaty ally, with the bilateral defense and security engagement as the key pillar of the two nations’ ties. 

For her part, Harris underscored the "bipartisan support" of the US Congress and Washington for elevating ties with the Philippines, particularly in areas of security, economic prosperity, and people-to-people connections.

She further emphasized the importance of the trilateral ties between the Philippines, the US, and Japan. 

"As we discussed with (US) President (Joe) Biden on Sunday, the trilateral cooperation with Japan is a very important way to deepen our economic cooperation and build secured supply chains as well as promote security across the region," she said. 

"And I echo the President’s conversation with you about the work that you will do with the next administration in terms of reinforcing the importance of that trilateral cooperation and the critical nature of it to maintain security in the South China Sea," she added. 

Outgoing US President Joe Biden and Harris have been engaging in calls with allies and partners ahead of the conclusion of their terms on January 20 of this year. 

President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican, is set to make a White House comeback after defeating Harris in the November 2024 elections. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News