The BGA Philippines Team, led by Managing Director Victor Andres Manhit, wrote an update for clients on recent advancements in the U.S.-Philippines alliance following the 2+2 ministerial dialogue.

Context

  • Top foreign and defense officials from the Philippines and the United States met in Washington April 11 to discuss pressing global issues, including security, trade and economic cooperation. Following challenges to the bilateral relationship during the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte, the U.S.-Philippines 2+2 ministerial dialogue highlighted the efforts by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to mend and elevate the alliance.
  • The dialogue served as a platform to strengthen U.S.-Philippine cooperation across key areas of the alliance as both countries strive toward a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The alliance is further supported by the announcement of the four new Philippine military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Significance

  • Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., together with their U.S. counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, reaffirmed their commitment to advance a rules-based international order and other shared priorities. They agreed to prioritize and complete a road map to cover the delivery of U.S. defense assistance to the Philippines over the next five to 10 years.
  • Apart from military cooperation, the secretaries agreed to explore additional avenues for economic cooperation. These include food security, infrastructure improvement, advancing the digital economy, disaster relief efforts and establishing an Indo-Pacific civil space collaboration.

Implications

  • Strategizing beyond the competition between the United States and China, the Marcos administration continues to pursue a foreign and security policy based on national interests. This is reflected in the administration’s current initiatives that capitalize on existing partnerships and maximize cooperation with allies and partners without any pressure and interference from other states.
  • The secretaries strongly supported the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and emphasized that regional partnerships and arrangements should uphold ASEAN centrality. They recognized the importance of promoting economic and security cooperation with other partners in Southeast Asia through various initiatives, including joint training and capacity building.   

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 Philippines at vmanhit@bowergroupasia.com.

Best regards,

BGA Philippines Team

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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