A ranking US government official will be in the Philippines starting today, Jan. 18, for a strategic dialogue with Filipino officials.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink will be holding talks with Philippine diplomatic and defense officials as he participates in the tenth US-Philippines Bilateral Dialogue until Jan. 21, the US Office of the Spokesperson said on Monday night.
Kritenbrink will be accompanied by a delegation co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Lindsey Ford.
"This dialogue underscores the strength of the US-Philippines alliance, focusing on areas of mutual interest," the Office of the Spokesperson said.
Areas of interest between the two countries include maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, addressing global challenges, enhancing bilateral and regional economic cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties, it added.
While in Manila, Kritenbrink will also meet with local civil society leaders and speak with students about US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region.
He will "take part in further efforts that demonstrate the United States' commitment to developing quality digital infrastructure in the Philippines," the US government added.
Kritenbrink will be joining the list of ranking US government officials to be visiting the Philippines. Since President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assumed his post in July 2022, other US government officials to arrive in the country are: Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and State Department’s Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins.