MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday agreed to further strengthen the Philippines-US collaboration on various areas of mutual interest to respond to current and emerging challenges.
The President welcomed Rubio in Malacañang for the latter’s courtesy call. Rubio is in Manila to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers Meetings and Related Meetings. It is Rubio’s first visit to the Philippines as US Secretary of State.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said among the issues mentioned by the President as areas of cooperation are concerted effort to respond to the effects of the Middle East conflict.
Marcos also discussed with Rubio new and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, defense and security, as well as economic cooperation.
The PCO said that according to the President, the Philippines and the US can also build further based on the longstanding relations between them, particularly in addressing various issues such as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, trade and business cooperation, and disaster response.
The Philippines and the US formally established diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946, marking 80 years of diplomatic relations this year. It is the Philippines’ oldest and only treaty ally.
Bilateral defense and security engagement remains a key pillar of Philippines-US bilateral relations and is carried out within the framework of the Mutual Defense Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and other bilateral agreements.
The US has been a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since 1977 and a comprehensive strategic partner since 2022.
In terms of trade, the US is the Philippines’ third largest trading partner, top export market, and fifth largest import supplier as of 2025.
The US is also the Philippines major source of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Official Development Assistance (ODA).
In 2025, net FDI from the US reached $183.99 million. In 2023, it was the Philippines’ top source of ODA grants, amounting to $615.97 million.
