Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, U.S. allies, including the Philippines, have reached out to his administration. Despite the current freeze on U.S. aid, the Philippines were included in the list of countries receiving U.S. assistance in the areas of security and defense. The U.S. Congress recently approved $336 million in foreign military financing for the Philippines, with the expectation of additional resources.
During recent discussions, American officials reaffirmed the United States' unbreakable commitment to the alliance with the Philippines, especially in light of destabilizing actions by China in the South China Sea. The recent actions of former President Joe Biden were aimed at strengthening security and defense ties in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly through trilateral agreements involving the Philippines and Japan.
Representing Manila in the U.S., Jose Manuel Romualdez stressed that the Philippines is considering the possibility of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US within the framework of a trade agreement, while agreements on defense between the two countries remain in force.
"The Philippines desires to strengthen a long-term alliance with the U.S. in light of China's growing aggressiveness," Romualdez said. "The White House is aware of the importance of Manila's personal meeting and expects to receive invitations in the near future." The establishment of a timeline for the meeting is still under consideration.
The Philippines continues to engage in talks with American officials to strengthen cooperation in the areas of defense and security. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is eager to meet with Donald Trump in Washington and is ready to do so as soon as Trump is available. A potential meeting may take place in the spring.
