Aside from defense and security ties, the Philippines and the United States plan to “focus a lot” on the economic cooperation of the two countries as Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo underscored how this could also lead to better security for the Philippines.
 

(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 a recent interview on NewsWatch Plus PH, the official shared that in his two discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they agreed on the importance of economic cooperation not only between government to government, but also in the private sector.
 

“So, I think it appears that we will be focusing a lot now on how to promote economic cooperation,” he said.
 

“Of course, you have defense and security but we will try to focus a lot on more economic cooperation because in the end, economic cooperation leads to greater economic security which leads also to your security,” the official added.
 

Despite concerns on the Trump administration’s foreign policies, Manalo assured that “based on my conversations and also what I have heard in terms of conversation of other officials in our government and the US,” the relationship of the Philippines and US “may even become more enhanced or stronger especially as we are thinking now of having more economic cooperation.”
 

“So certainly, that's a good sign and even on defense and security, I have not heard anything that would be less what it is,” he emphasized.
 

“I think, all in all, you're looking at a relationship that has good prospect. Well, if you wanna say, bright prospects. We are already bright before—brighter,” Manalo added.
 

China overreacting
 

The DFA chief also downplayed China’s concern over the presence of the United States’ Typhon missile system in the country, saying that the Philippines is allowed to have such missile for defense purpose.
 

“In principle, they are really there for our defense. And therefore, I really can't understand the continuous concern being expressed by China on their use when you consider China that has certainly many more missiles than the Philippines and I do not know where they are aimed at,” he said.
 

“I think they might be a bit of an overreaction to the Typhon missiles which are clearly for defense purposes. The Philippines absolutely has no intention of directing them at any certain country unless you're attacked. That is why they are for defense,” he stressed.
 

In January, President Marcos offered China a deal: he would return the Typhon missile to the US if China will stop claiming the Philippine territory and Filipino vessels in the South China Sea.
 

This was after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning again called on the Philippines to pull out the Typhon missile launchers and Beijing was angered by the Philippines’ announcement that it has plans to acquire the mid-range missile system, which was deployed by the United States in April 2024 for annual joint military exercises.
 

Manalo insisted that the presence of the missile in the country is the “prerogative” of the Philippines.
 

“Do we question what they do? If you say it's for national defense, for security in general, every country has a right to defend itself as long as it doesn’t use it, you know, for aggressive purposes,” he added.
 

The official emphasized how the Philippines has followed the United Nations Charter and explained that the Charter did not say a country cannot be ready to defend itself.
 

“We do not criticize what they do. We do not criticize what other countries do which wish to to build up their defenses. We never criticize them,” Manalo argued.