Marcos flies to meet Trump in Washington visit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed for Washington. D.C. for an official visit which includes a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

During his departure speech at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos said his visit aims to push for “greater economic engagement.”

“I intend to convey to President Trump and his cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of,” Marcos said.

“I expect our discussions to focus on security and defense of course, but also on trade. And we will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States,” he added.

The President's aircraft left Manila at 10:20 a.m.

The Philippine President also said his visit will reaffirm the Philippine’s “commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.”

Among the topics Marcos and Trump will discuss is the steep 20% tariff rate on Filipino goods entering the US, as Manila hopes to strike a mutually acceptable and beneficial tariff deal with the US.

Marcos' visit will be from July 20 to 22. The visit is the first by an ASEAN head of state to the United States under Trump's current administration.

Aside from Trump, Marcos will have a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 21.

Several businesses in the US also expressed their intention to meet with the Philippine leader,  Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said.

Marcos will also invite Trump to attend the East-Asia Summit as the Philippines will host the ASEAN Summit in 2026. — RF, GMA Integrated News