Marcos to Biden: PH looking to US to strengthen, redefine ties

WASHINGTON—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the White House said it was natural for the Philippines to look to the United States and strengthen their ties amid tensions in the South China Sea and the Asia Pacific.

In his opening remarks during his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden, Marcos also brought up the need to strengthen the partnership in the post-pandemic economy.

“Beyond that, there are also issues, geopolitical issues that make the region... the Philippines is, possibly, arguably the most complicated geopolitical situation in the world right now,” Marcos said.

“And so it is only natural that... for the Philippines to look to its sole treaty partner in the world, to strengthen and to redefine the relationship that we have and the roles that we play in the face of these... tensions that we see now around the South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

Marcos has said that he was looking to discuss the Mutual Defense Treaty which the two countries signed in 1951.

He has said that the MDT needed to evolve.

Marcos thanked Biden for welcoming him to the White House. He said his visit was an opportunity to discuss the pressing issues that affect both countries.

“We have many things that are new that need to be assessed and again our role as partners in the world—in our worldview of what we are hoping for the future of peace, not only in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific region but in the whole world,” Marcos said.

“So thank you once again for this opportunity,” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News