Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened for their inaugural face-to-face discussion at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 14, 2025. The primary focus of their dialogue was on countering China’s destabilizing maneuvers in the South China Sea and enhancing economic collaboration between the Philippines and the United States. Rubio, during the meeting, underscored the U.S.’s dedication to fortifying its alliance with the Philippines, aiming for a more robust and lasting partnership. He shared on social media platform X, ‘Had the opportunity to meet with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo during the Munich Security Conference. We discussed how we can strengthen the US-Philippine Alliance to address China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and increase the economic prosperity of our citizens.’ Manalo echoed this sentiment, expressing Manila’s commitment to deepening economic and security ties with the U.S., stating, ‘A great first in-person meeting with Secretary Rubio at (MSC 2025). A strong and committed Philippine-US partnership in various areas will contribute to a more robust alliance.’ The U.S. State Department highlighted that the talks also covered economic cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, critical minerals, information technology, and energy, including civil nuclear cooperation. Amidst these discussions, Manalo had previously mentioned Manila’s interest in understanding the impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze on Philippine assistance, though it remains unclear if this was addressed with Rubio. Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense in the Philippines has been tasked with assessing the effects of the aid pause on ongoing projects and proposing solutions to ensure their continued progress.
Manalo and Rubio Address China’s Actions in South China Sea at Munich Conference
·
