New US Ambassador to PH Lee Lipton 'excited' to strengthen ties

Newly appointed United States Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said he is eager to further strengthen the alliance between Manila and Washington as the US Embassy in the Philippines marked the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The reception was Lipton’s first public appearance after presenting his credentials and meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be appointed by President Trump to serve my country in Manila. I’m so excited to be here and elevate the United States alliance with the Philippines to new heights,” said Lipton at a reception celebrating the US 250th year of independence, at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Thursday.

Lipton said the United States has major plans for the Philippines, not only in defense and maritime security, but also in business, jobs, investment, and assistance.

“We have some really big plans to bring American business jobs, investment, assistance and so much more to the Filipino people,” Lipton said during his remarks.

The celebration, themed “Freedom 250: Celebrating 250 Years of US Independence,” also highlighted the long-standing ties between the Philippines and the United States as the two countries mark the 80th anniversary of their bilateral relations.

The Philippines and the US have a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA.

In recent years, the Philippines has also expanded defense cooperation with other partners, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand through visiting forces agreements, while Japan signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement with the Philippines.

These countries have expressed support for the Philippines in defense and maritime security, including Manila’s rights in the West Philippine Sea.

This year, the Philippines and the United States also held the most expansive Balikatan exercises in history, with around 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the US, and partner nations joining the drills.

Despite the Philippines’ growing list of defense partners, the United States remains the only country with which Manila has a Mutual Defense Treaty.

Under the MDT, an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either country’s public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces, including the Coast Guard, would invoke mutual defense commitments.

DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim underscored the importance of the treaty and the continuing defense cooperation between the two allies.

“Under the MDT to the Enhanced cooperation agreement, our forces have built the kind of interoperability that cannot be improvised when it is needed most; that work continues and it matters more not less with each passing year,” he said.

The US Independence Day reception was attended by several ambassadors, including Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya.

Several Philippine officials and lawmakers also attended the event, including Senator Risa Hontiveros and Senator Erwin Tulfo. — BM, GMA News