The BGA Philippines Team, led by Managing Director Victor Andres Manhit, wrote an update to clients on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to the United States.

Context

  • Building on 77 years of diplomatic relations, the engagement paves the way for a stronger alliance between the Philippines and the United States, with notable progress on defense, trade, energy and the environment.
  • In his first year in office, Marcos had separate meetings with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during their official visits to Manila.

Significance

  • The official statement from the bilateral meeting reiterated that the Philippines and the United States would remain “the closest of allies,” working together to uphold international law and expand regional collaboration to manage emerging challenges. Biden said he “can’t think of any better partner to have than [the Philippines].” Marcos noted that the Philippines looks to its “sole treaty partner” at a time when geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific continue to evolve.
  • The leaders agreed to adopt bilateral defense guidelines aimed at deepening and expanding interoperability across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace. They also resolved to strengthen economic ties, nuclear energy cooperation and collaboration on issues related to the environment.

Implications

  • Companies should look for new opportunities to emerge from the engagement, particularly in the defense sector. Accelerating the interoperability of the U.S. and Philippines armed forces over the next five to 10 years will require significant upgrades in Manila’s weapons systems and platforms, and heightened tension in the South China Sea has lent greater exigency to this effort.

We will continue to keep you updated on developments in the Philippines as they occur. If you have any questions or comments, please contact BGA Philippines Managing Director Victor Andres Manhit at vmanhit@bowergroupasia.com.

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Managing Director

Dindo is recognized as one of Manila’s most well-connected and savvy advisors on developments in government and business in the Philippines. Concurrent to his role as managing director for BGA’s operations in the Philippines, he is also the founder and managing director of the Stratbase Group and president of its policy think tank, the Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies. Since 1991, Dindo has served as a member of the faculty and is the former chair of the Political Science Department and a senior fellow of the La Salle Institute of Governance at the De La Salle ... Read More