Blinken: US-PH alliance more than rock solid, among Biden’s priorities

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the relationship between the US and the Philippines as ”more than rock solid” and is among the priorities of President Joe Biden.

Blinken said this as he paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday afternoon.

”I think it’s so important to us, even as we’re with dealing with these challenges, our focus, our engagement, our commitment to the Indo-Pacific at large and to the relationship and the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is more than rock solid,” Blinken told Marcos.

”It’s an absolute priority of President Biden and that’s why he asked me to be here,” the American official added.

Blinken also said that Marcos’ upcoming visit to Washington in April would result in a new cooperation among the US, the Philippines, and Japan.

”It’s also incredibly promising but it’s building on the very strong foundation of our countries where we have the same priorities whether it’s economic development, whether it’s dealing with climate change, food security, of course upholding international law,” Blinken said.

The White House earlier announced that Biden would host Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a summit in Washington on April 11 to discuss economic ties and the Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken said that arrangement was “a very important platform” for peace and building greater stability.

The secretary has lauded the recent strengthening of defense ties with the Philippines as “extraordinary,” saying they would only grow further, though Washington’s expanding alliances were not aimed at China.

The US diplomat said China’s actions in the South China Sea had triggered a wider international reaction, and the United States was engaged in intense diplomacy to reaffirm international law.—RF, GMA Integrated News