Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that his scheduled meeting tomorrow, Monday, with U.S. President Joe Biden is essential to bolster his country’s national interests and support the "very important alliance" between Manila and Washington. Marcos stated on Sunday, before departing for a four-day official visit to Washington, that he will communicate to Biden his intent to establish a "stronger relationship" with the United States "to address the concerns of our time," including issues related to the economy. He mentioned that "during this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our long-standing alliance as a tool for peace and a catalyst for development in the Asia-Pacific region."
A senior Biden administration official told Reuters that "Biden and Marcos are expected to reach agreements on enhancing cooperation in the business sector, along with "military enhancements" due to shared concerns about China." The official added that "the strategic importance of the Philippines cannot be overstated," noting that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will lead a presidential trade delegation to the Philippines as part of efforts to enhance trade relations. This is the first visit by a Philippine president to Washington in over a decade and the latest in a series of high-level meetings the Philippines has held with leaders from the United States and China.
