The Philippines is hosting a two-day dialogue with the US to discuss current challenges being faced by both countries and come up with ways to resolve them.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) are co-hosting the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) that started on Thursday, Jan. 19, as both agencies aim to serve a platform​ "for the Philippines and United States to affirm the longstanding alliance and friendship."
During the dialogue, both sides will "discuss current challenges and identify new areas for cooperation at the working group and senior officials' levels," the DFA said. They will also cover a gamut of relations, including in the areas of defense, economic, people-to-people, and other related cross-cutting issues at the bilateral, regional, and global levels.
According to DFA, BSD has been held almost annually since 2011. Co-chaired by senior officials of the DFA and DND, BSD involves working group level discussions on defense and security, economics, development and prosperity, rule of law and law enforcement, and regional and global diplomatic engagement.
In a recent statement, DFA said the Philippines and the US see the meeting "as an important opportunity to progress discussions on concrete initiatives to achieve the objectives outlined in the Joint Vision for a 21st century United States-Philippines Partnership adopted by both sides during the 9th BSD."
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink is currently in Manila to represent the US in the dialogue.
Kritenbrink is accompanied by a delegation co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Lindsey Ford.
For the US State Department, the dialogue "underscores the strength of the US-Philippines alliance, focusing on areas of mutual interest."
The DFA is expecting the 10th BSD to sustain the positive trajectory and momentum of the PH-US alliance under a Marcos Jr. administration.