United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III will be in Manila on July 30 for high-level foreign and defense talks, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.
(From left) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP/Susan Walsh)
The two high-ranking US officials will be hosted by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo for the 4th Philippines-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (“2+2 Dialogue”).
“During this year’s 2+2 Dialogue, the four Secretaries are expected to discuss how to further enhance our two countries’ ironclad commitment to this alliance while enabling a common program in support of the rules-based international order, enhanced economic ties, broad-based prosperity, and solutions to evolving regional and global security challenges,” the DFA said in a statement on Monday night, July 22.
Matthew Miller, the State Department’s spokesperson, said in a separate statement that the officials “will reaffirm our nations’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and support for international law.”
“They will discuss ways to deepen coordination on shared challenges, including in the South China Sea, and advance our bilateral economic agenda,” he added.
Aside from Manila, Blinken is also set to visit Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Singapore, and Mongolia, marking the 18th trip that the official had been to the Indo-Pacific region.
Miller said that Blinken “will further underscore the United States’ enduring commitment to deepening and expanding ties to unprecedented levels and creating mutually reinforcing relationships to tackle today’s greatest challenges.”
This was seconded by Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, who took note of the Indo-Pacific region’s importance in driving the United States’ “future security and prosperity.”
“Given our priorities in the region, we place enormous value on our Indo-Pacific partners and allies, with whom we work every day to facilitate our shared vision of a region that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient,” he said.
A particular highlight of Blinken’s trip to the region is his visit to Japan and the Philippines, Kritenbrink added.
“It’s clear that our alliances with both have never been stronger,” the foreign official stressed.
He confirmed that the South China Sea issue will be discussed by the officials during the trip, saying that they “will discuss ways to deepen coordination on shared challenges, including in the South China Sea, while also advancing our critically important bilateral economic agenda.”
Both Miller and Kritenbrink also confirmed that Blinken and Austin will meet with President Marcos “to explore additional ways to capitalize on the unprecedented momentum in the US-Philippines alliance.”