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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider First meet: Rubio, Manalo tackle South China Sea, economic cooperation in Munich

First meet: Rubio, Manalo tackle South China Sea, economic cooperation in Munich

Published Feb 15, 2025 01:07 am

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for the first time on Friday, Feb. 14, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where they discussed the South China Sea issue and the two countries’ economic cooperation.

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(From left) DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands during a meeting in Munich, Germany (Photo from Sec. Manalo)

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the DFA chief shared about his in-person meeting with the state secretary.

“A great first in person meeting with @SecRubio at #MSC2025,” he wrote.

“A strong and committed PH-US partnership in various areas will contribute to a more robust alliance. We are committed to working together to further strengthen economic & security ties,” the official added.

A readout by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the officials tackled China’s actions in the contested region and the “increasing economic cooperation” between the allies.

“Secretary Rubio not only reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the United States-Philippines Alliance, but noted his enthusiasm for building an even more invested and enduring relationship,” she said.

“Discussions included the ongoing bilateral coordination on addressing China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea; and increasing economic cooperation on infrastructure, critical minerals, information technology, and energy, including through civil nuclear cooperation,” Bruce added.

Earlier, Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitments” to Manila in a phone call with Manalo shortly after being appointed by US President Donald Trump.

The two officials’ meeting in Munich, the first stop of Manalo’s six-day trip to Europe, comes as China continues its aggressive claims of the almost the entire South China Sea, including the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of their neighbor-countries.

European Union

While in Munich, Germany, Manalo met also with European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

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DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (right) (Photo courtesy of Sec. Manalo)

“My meeting today with EU HRVP @kajakallas reaffirmed our commitment to building on the strong momentum of engagements in recent years. Looking forward to even greater collaboration and impactful work in the years ahead,” he said of the meeting with Kallas, also the vice president of the European Commission (EC).

Peru

He also had discussions in a bilateral meeting with his Peruvian counterpart, Peru’s Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer.

“We agreed to build on our 50 years of diplomatic relations by deepening our cooperation in various areas, such as trade, agriculture, DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management), sustainable mining, the maritime domain, as well as tourism and culture,” Manalo wrote.

The DFA chief shared Peru’s plan to reopen its embassy in Manila this year “as a sign of (Peru’s) commitment to deepen its relations with the Philippines.”

Slovenia

He also met briefly Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, whom he shared will be visiting Manila next month to celebrate the opening of the Slovenian Embassy “and to discuss ways to deepen PH-SL relations.”

Manalo_Fajon.jpg(From left) Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon talks to DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo (right). (Photo from Sec. Manalo via X post)

In Munich, Manalo also met with other foreign ministers from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Macedonia to discuss bilateral cooperation with the Philippines.

London

After the Munich Security Conference, Manalo will be in London, United Kingdom to hold bilateral meetings with UK officials and meet with members of the Asia House and Chatham House.

“The Secretary's trips aim to exchange views with several international partners on regional developments, and discuss means to further strengthen bilateral relations, including the commitment to safeguard a rules-based international order and the rule of law,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

Held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Manalo was a lead discussant in the roundtable discussion entitled “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific” on Feb. 15. He last attended the 59th Munich Security Conference in 2023.

Related Tags

Enrique Manalo South China Sea munich security conference Marco Rubio
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