Vice President Kamala Harris met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines on the margins of the U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. They welcomed the strength of the bilateral relationship. They discussed opportunities to deepen commercial and economic cooperation, as well as their shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international order. This meeting builds on President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ bilateral meetings with President Marcos in Washington D.C. in May 2023 and the Vice President’s November 2022 trip to the Philippines.
The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad alliance commitment to the Philippines, and highlighted the role the U.S.-Philippines alliance plays in ensuring a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The two leadersdiscussed the maritime security environment in the South China Sea, and reviewed opportunities to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation, including alongside likeminded partners. They welcomed the identification of four additional sites pursuant to the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will drive U.S. investment to local communities across the Philippines and improve our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. President Marcos and the Vice President also discussed opportunities to bolster bilateral economic cooperation and enhance economic resilience.
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