2023 April 21
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will travel again to the United States by the end of April for a second bilateral talk with US President Joe Biden, the US Embassy in Manila and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday.
The DFA said that Marcos would be in Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4 on an official visit to reaffirm the “historical, deep and expansive” relationship between the two countries and strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance.”
His activities will begin on May 1 with a bilateral talk with Biden—his second one after New York, which was held at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Expanded meetings with key US Cabinet officials will follow it.
According to the White House, Biden will host Marcos to reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines.
The two leaders will also discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding US-Philippines alliance, the White House added.
Next month’s bilateral talks will be the latest in a series of high-level meetings the Philippines has conducted with leaders of the United States and China, both of which are jostling for strategic advantage in the region.
Biden and Marcos will discuss economic and defence cooperation, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
In what will be his second trip to the United States in less than a year, the presidential palace said on Friday that Marcos will travel to Washington from April 30 to May 4 to meet Biden and key cabinet officials.
In September, Marcos first visited the US after assuming the presidency.
There, he also sat down with Biden, an event he saw as very significant.
Since then, there have been several high level talks between the two countries aimed at strengthening not only their economic ties but also military, which has angered China.
The Philippines stressed the importance of the visit as it “will reaffirm the bonds of friendship that give definition and significance to the many facets of the bilateral relationship, underpinned by the close affinity shared by Filipinos and Americans alike for many years.”
“The trip will highlight the steadfast commitment by both sides to be reliable and resilient allies and partners in times of crisis and prosperity, amid a challenging global and regional environment,” the DFA added.
“It will substantively progress efforts to further deepen…political ties, to bring about lasting socio-economic partnerships, as well as to enhance defence and security cooperation,” the palace said.
Marcos will seek closer partnership in agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supply chains, and infrastructure, it added.
Marites de Jesus, FWH