Marcos, Trump discuss global security, economy in phone call
At A Glance
- President Marcos and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on Thursday, discussing global economic and security developments.
- The call followed President Marcos' meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malacañang, where the West Philippine Sea was among the issues discussed.
- President Trump assured Marcos he would raise the Philippines' concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their next meeting.
President Marcos and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation Thursday evening, July 23, discussing the current global economic and security situation, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
According to the PCO, the phone call stemmed from President Marcos' meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malacañang on Wednesday, during which the President updated the top American diplomat on the latest developments in the South China Sea.
During the conversation, President Trump assured President Marcos that he would raise the Philippines' concerns during his next meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the PCO said.
Trump and Xi are expected to meet in Washington in September.
The US Ambassador to the Philippines, Lee Lipton, also confirmed the call in a post on X, saying President Trump had spoken with President Marcos and expressing hope that the two leaders would remain in regular contact.
"One of my goals as US Ambassador to the Philippines is to ensure our two leaders are regularly in touch with each other," Lipton said.
"Great things ahead!" he added.
The phone call marks the latest high-level engagement between Manila and Washington as both countries continue to strengthen cooperation on regional security, economic issues, and developments in the Indo-Pacific.
Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary Rubio met President Marcos in Malacañan as part of ongoing consultations between the two treaty allies.
According to the PCO, Marcos briefed Rubio on the recent incidents in the South China Sea, where tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels have persisted in recent months.
The Philippines and the United States have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and have expanded cooperation in defense, maritime security, and economic development under the Marcos administration.