Marcos hopes for ‘strong’ US-Philippines ties under Trump, he tells Kamala Harris

Many in the Philippines are wary about the future of its relationship with the US as president-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office

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Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on “expressed optimism in maintaining the strong and dynamic relationship” with the US – particularly on economics, defence and security. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:19pm, 15 Jan 2025

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is hopeful Manila and Washington will maintain their “strong and dynamic” relationship under the incoming US administration, a palace statement said on Wednesday, less than a week before Donald Trump assumes office.

The United States has a decades-old security alliance with the Philippines that includes a mutual defence treaty and a 2014 pact which allows the US military to store equipment on nine Philippine bases.

With president-elect Trump assuming office on January 20, many in the Philippines are wary about the future of Manila and Washington’s relationship.

But Marcos “expressed optimism in maintaining the strong and dynamic relationship” between the two countries – particularly on economics, defence and security – during a phone call with outgoing Vice-President Kamala Harris.

“The progress that we have made is terribly encouraging and we just hope to build on that,” said a statement from Manila’s Presidential Communications Office, quoting Marcos during the call.

He also hopes the two countries “continue to stand for our shared values and the rule of international law”.