Global stability rests on ties that bind — BBM

The President’s statement is being analyzed by geopolitical experts against his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte’s perceived pivot toward China and Russia early in the latter’s administration

The feeling is mutual. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. welcomed over the weekend the assurance of the United States (US) that it will continue fostering stronger relations with the Philippines.

Mr. Marcos said that in the face of the volatile global political and economic situation, the ties forged by the Philippines with friendly nations, including the US, become more important.

The President issued the pronouncements after receiving the credentials of US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Friday.

“To echo your commitment that the United States is committed to the Philippines, the Philippines is also committed to the US, committed to the continuing relationship between our two countries,” Marcos told Carlson.

“We depend on those ties to keep the stability of not only our country but also the region and for that matter, the world,” he added.

Carlson reiterated to Marcos US President Joe Biden’s invitation for him to visit America. She assured Marcos of “full diplomatic immunity” as head of state against a contempt order by a US court.

America granted the Philippines independence as a sovereign nation on 4 July 1946 to start formal diplomatic relations between the superpower and its erstwhile vassal.

That relationship deepened through trade and commerce, defense and security and culture and education. In World War 2, the two countries allied themselves against the Axis nations, specifically in driving Japanese soldiers out of Manila.

Marcos stressed that the Philippines will stay as a “friend, partner, and ally” of the US.

The President’s statement is being analyzed by geopolitical experts against his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte’s perceived pivot toward China and Russia early in the latter’s administration.

Duterte as President undertook numerous official visits to China and Russia while threatening to cancel the Philippines’ military cooperation agreement with the US. He also relied heavily on China in sourcing vaccines against Covid-19 early in the pandemic.

The former mayor of Davao City was the first Philippine president to visit the Russian Federation in May 2017, a trip cut short by the Marawi City attack of the Maute terror group. In 2019, Duterte again paid Russian strongman Vladimir Putin a visit in Moscow.

Duterte, however, was seen to have veered the Philippines back to its traditional ally, the United States, in the last year of his presidency, with the two countries holding their first full-scale war exercises under his administration.