PH, US reassert ties amid second Trump presidency

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and newly minted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed on Wednesday the importance of the alliance between Manila and Washington in light of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. 

Manalo said that he spoke with Rubio to congratulate him on his appointment as the US' top diplomat.

“We discussed the importance of the PH-US alliance for the prosperity and security of the Indo Pacific, and the strength of our bilateral political, economic, and people-to-people ties,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). 

“We look forward to working with Secretary Rubio and his team towards addressing challenges and sustaining the momentum and positive trajectory in our bilateral relations.” 

In a statement issued Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the discussion tackled “issues of mutual concern,” which included issues in the West Philippine Sea.

“Secretary Rubio conveyed that the (People's Republic of China’s) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law. The Secretary underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” said Bruce.

Bruce said that other topics, such as ways to advance security cooperation, expand economic ties for shared prosperity, and avenues for further regional cooperation were also discussed.

The Philippine government has taken Trump’s victory with optimism despite his controversial stance against illegal immigrants in the US, where there are millions of Filipinos working. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said earlier that he looks forward to working with the returning US president on a wide range of issues that "will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision, and a long history of working together."

The US has been the Philippines’ longtime ally especially in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have been vocal against the aggressions by China in the South China Sea. 

During his confirmation hearing, Rubio asked China not to mess with the Philippines and Taiwan amid the tensions in the disputed waters. He also flagged Beijing for the continuing presence of its “monster ship” in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. 

The new Trump appointee is also a supporter of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of Manila and Washington, which binds both countries to come to each other’s aid during an attack. — BM, GMA Integrated News