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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Blinken: Manila hosting 2+2 meet evidence of PH-US steady, high-level ties

Blinken: Manila hosting 2+2 meet evidence of PH-US steady, high-level ties

Published Jul 30, 2024 02:40 am

Philippines hosting the 2+2 meeting with the United States is "evidence of a steady drumbeat, a very high-level engagement" between the two countries, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

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President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III in a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on July 30, 2024. (RTVM Screenshot)

Blinken made the statement during their courtesy call to President Marcos on Tuesday, July 30, at the Malacañan Palace.

He said that the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Dialogue being hosted by Manila is "genuinely historic."

"I think today is genuinely historic. This is the first time that the Philippines has hosted our two-plus-two," Blinken told Marcos.

"It's I think really evidence of a steady drumbeat, a very high-level engagements between our countries that are covering the full range of issues and opportunities that bring us together, not only security but also economic, and we're truly grateful for this partnership," he added.

The US official further expressed that his and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III's visit to the country would further advance "the critical work that we're doing together."

Marcos, on the other hand, acknowledged that the two countries are "doing many things together" as the lines of communication between them have been very open.

"[A]ll of the things that we have done in the previous months has been really --- serves really to make all our alliances and partnerships more --- actually have a working relationship in the sense that lines of communications have been open and again we are doing many more things together," Marcos said.

Blinken and Austin are in Manila to attend the 2+2 Dialogue hosted by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

According to the DFA, the four secretaries are set to engage on further enhancing the two nations’ commitment to the Philippines-US alliance while enabling a common program in support of the rules-based international order, enhanced economic ties and broad-based prosperity, as well as solutions to evolving regional and global security challenges.

READ MORE: Philippines, US have 'very open' communication lines—Marcos

Related Tags

PH-US ties Lloyd Austin III President Marcos Antony Blinken
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