PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday congratulated former President Donald Trump on his looming return to the White House and said looks forward to working with him “on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision, and a long history of working together.”
“I am hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in war and peace, will be a force for good, blazing a path of prosperity and amity in the region and on both sides of the Pacific,” the President added.
Marcos also said the Philippines is fully committed to its partnership with the US which is founded on the shared ideals of freedom and democracy.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, earlier yesterday before the poll results showed a victory for Trump, said ties between the two countries will remain strong and unchanged whether Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins.
“I am very confident of the future of US-Philippine relations,” Carlson said at an election watch party hosted by the US Embassy in Manila.
Carlson said she is confident the alliance between the two countries, which is underpinned by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), will remain “ironclad” — whether a Democrat or Republican will win the race for the White House — because Manila has strong support from both sides.
The US has repeatedly stated it will honor its commitment to the Philippines under the MDT if its forces come under attack even in the disputed West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Calls to amend the MDT have been growing to counter China’s “hybrid” tactics in the disputed waters, making aggressive moves against Philippine troops and vessels short of an all-out war.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez reiterated his view that the US will not pull out in the region, whoever wins, adding that doing so would be “disastrous” for US foreign policy.
Romualdez said the disputed water is also an important route for commerce and trade not only for the US but also its allies in the region such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.
“It will be disastrous if they pull out completely, which I don’t think they will do, because the South China Sea is very important to them,” Romualdez said.
He said US presence in the region is very important in maintaining peace, security and stability, a view, he added, is shared not only by Manila but also by Washington’s allies.
Romualdez earlier said he expects no changes in the MDT and its implementation whoever is elected next president. – With Ashzel Hachero
