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2mo ago

Philippines Confident in Continued U.S. Military Support Under Trump Administration

Ambassador Romualdez asserts that defense ties and China Sea patrols will remain strong, with plans for a Marcos-Trump meeting underway.

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FILE - U.S. troopers alight from a US Army CH-47 carrying American and Philippine troops as it lands at the Philippines' northernmost town of Itbayat, Batanes province during a joint military exercise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez, center, answers questions from reporters during a news conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines on Monday March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Gomez)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gestures as he speaks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday. July 30, 2024. Basilio Sepe/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Overview

  • Philippine Ambassador Jose Romualdez expressed confidence that U.S. military support, including patrols in the South China Sea, will continue under President Donald Trump.
  • Romualdez highlighted bipartisan backing in the U.S. for a $2.5 billion defense bill to support the Philippines' military modernization efforts.
  • A potential meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Trump is being arranged, possibly in the spring, to strengthen bilateral ties.
  • The Philippines is exploring increased trade with the U.S., including potential liquefied natural gas imports as part of broader economic cooperation.
  • Tensions with China over the South China Sea persist, with the Philippines emphasizing the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the region.