President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are expected to discuss further security and defense cooperation between their countries when the latter visits Manila next month.

Marcos said they will also be discussing the continuation of joint exercises such as the amphibious assault exercise featuring the coordinated Amphibious and Land Operation (ALON) bilateral training including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Australian Defense Force (ADF) to increase the country's defense capabilities.
"Alam naman ninyo pagka maganda ang coordination, lalong-lalo na pag sa military, napakalaki (ng) multiplier effect (You already know that when there is a good coordination, especially in military, it has a big multiplier effect)," Marcos said after witnessing the ALON bilateral training in San Antonio, Zambales on Friday, Aug. 25.
"And that's why it is important that we continue. That's certainly going to be part of the discussion that I will be having with Prime Minister Albanese when he comes to visit us here in the Philippines," he added.
The President further said that they will come up with new strategies for their bilateral ties, considering that the Philippines and Australia "have many common concerns."
"I'm sure that we will come up with some new strategies and some new ideas, agreements, in terms of partnerships between our two countries, of course the security and defense was going to be part of that, but that will be one part of many things that we discussed," Marcos said.
He also cited the people-to-people ties between the two countries, with the Philippines having a "large happy contingent" living in Australia.
"We have a large happy contingent living in Australia, Filipinos who have chosen to live and work in Australia. They have been welcomed as part of the society, welcomed into the workforce, and for that we will have to be grateful to our Australian friends," he said.
Albanese will be visiting the country from September 7 to 8.
The official's visit will be the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister since 2003.
It follows a series of high-level engagements earlier this year between the Philippines and Australia, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to advance the trajectory of their multifaceted partnership, Malacañang said.