The US Embassy in Manila has expressed its gratitude to the Philippines for welcoming its aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as it paid a port visit amid strengthened military cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson thanked its “friends, partners, allies” from the country for welcoming the service members of its nuclear-powered carrier.
“The strength of the U.S.-Philippines alliance relies on the strength of the close ties between Filipinos and Americans,” said Carlson, who personally went to Manila Bay, where the supercarrier docked.
The Ronald Reagan had just come from Japan and South Korea in a show of force amid apparent threats from North Korea, which had been conducting missile launches.