Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez on Wednesday, Jan. 22, assured that the Philippines will continue to have a strong partnership with the United States under President Trump.
(From left) Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez and President Donald Trump during a meeting at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida. (Photo courtesy of Amb. Romualdez)
Speaking on ANC’s “Headstart,” the envoy said the Philippines has the support of both Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress when it comes to dealing with the South China Sea issue.
“Well, yes. Definitely we have bipartisan support. I have said that on several occasions that meeting with members of US Congress, we have had a quite very strong support even especially from Republicans,” he added.
In his first term, Trump ramped up the US military presence in the South China Sea to counter Beijing but he has yet to address the issue now with China gaining more strength in the past years.
But Romualdez, who attended the US President’s inauguration last Jan. 20, cited how Republican and Democrat senators have filed measures for military assistance to the Philippines, which he said “would continue during the next four years of the Trump administration.”
“So, we do have a very strong support both from the Republicans and Democrats,” the ambassador stressed.
“And we will continue to work with them on many of the other issues that I think is good for both of our countries,” he added.
Romualdez also doesn’t expect to see any “real major change” in the US’ foreign policy, sharing he was part of the diplomatic corps there during Trump’s first term.
He reminded that Trump’s former state secretary Mike Pompeo emphasized the US’ “iron-clad commitment” to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a defense pact that states the activation of US’ defense in case of an armed attack on Philippine territory and waters.
“And we see that also going to happen at this time,” Romualdez noted.
The envoy furthered that current State Secretary Marco Rubio said during his confirmation hearings that he will call Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo “to talk to him precisely of the commitments and also well, of course, renewing our ties so to speak with this new administration of President Trump.”
“Remember, this is a two-way street, it’s not just really one way. I know that United States sees the Philippines as an important ally especially at this time and we obviously have always looked at the United States as an important ally also for ourselves not only in security front but also in the economic front,” he assured.
In a separate interview on Radyo 360, the ambassador cited the MDT and the country being at the forefront of the South China Sea as one of the reasons why the US “needs” the Philippines.
He shared that during a lunch meeting with American officials, Ambassador Robert O’Brien underscored that the Philippines is important for the US.