(Photo Credit: U.S. Department of State via the department’s website)
United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to the Philippines for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue—the first US-PH 2+2 to be held in Manila.
This is part of his July 24 – August 3 official itinerary, his 18th trip to the Indo-Pacific region since becoming Secretary. Aside from the Philippines, he will also have engagements in Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Singapore, and Mongolia to demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
In the Philippines, Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
The officials will reaffirm the nations’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and support for adherence to international law in maritime domains.
They will also discuss ways to deepen coordination on shared challenges, including in the South China Sea, while also advancing the nations’ bilateral economic agenda.
In a press call, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink clarified the U.S. welcomes the announcement by the Philippines about a diplomatic conduct to de-escalate tensions with China regarding the Second Thomas Shoal situation.
ASec. Kritenbrink said, “I think the key now from our vantage would be to ensure that it is implemented, number one; and number two, that China ceases its provocative and destabilizing activities around Second Thomas Shoal that we’ve seen in recent weeks.”
He also reiterated, “In addition to our strong support for respect for international law, freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, I do want to underscore yet again America’s ironclad commitments to our Filipino allies under the Mutual Defense Treaty.”
Secretaries Blinken and Austin will also meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to explore additional ways to capitalize on the momentum in the United States-Philippines alliance.
