The meeting between President Marcos and United States President Donald Trump will reaffirm the long-standing allies’ defense ties, building on the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said.

During a press conference on Sunday, July 20 (US time), the envoy shared that planned discussions between the two leaders on their July 22 meeting will center on the agreements under the MDT and continued cooperation with the United States and other like-minded nations on the West Philippine Sea issue.

“All the agreements, the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement), the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement), and our modernization program that we're working with the United States. So, essentially, it's really the reaffirmation of all of these agreements that we have with the United States on our mutual defense, specifically surrounding the Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.

“So, it will be more on discussions on how we can continue to cooperate with the United States, our major ally. At the same time also, I think President Marcos would like to see how we can work with the United States and other countries that have the same mindset as far as the West Philippine Sea is concerned,” he added.

Romualdez, however, admitted that both countries “have to look at relationships now in a different light” to make sure that the alliance is “fair for both sides.”

“I think what's important is what is going to be good for us is what we're going to negotiate on. And the other side, the United States will also do what they can, as far as what they're concerned, they feel it is also in their national interest,” he explained.

The ambassador also said that the Philippines is “open” to the US’ plan to build an ammunition facility in its former naval base in Subic Bay, Zambales, adding that it would also be beneficial to the Philippines’ economy because it will create jobs.

“Obviously, we're open to that one because it's a good way of being able to have a combination of both defense and economic cooperation between the Philippines and the United States,” he stated.

The US Congress has taken the first step of approving the establishment of an ammunition production and storage facility in Subic Bay last month, citing concerns on a “lack of a forward-staged ammunition manufacturing facility in the Indo-Pacific.”

Romualdez also shared that the Philippines is studying on how it can procure multi-role fighter jets from the US after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. “made it clear” that the country’s priority is on the defense cooperation with Washington.

While noting that the jets are “very expensive,” the ambassador said that the defense chief also underscored the importance of modernizing the country’s Armed Forces through advanced defense equipment.

“That's what we're concentrating on right now,” he added.