PBBM’s foreign policy on the right path

Never in the history of the Philippines has our foreign policy been more significant and consequential than it is today. The world has turned many times over, but never have we faced so much danger and instability than what we are seeing today in many parts of the world, including the West Philippine Sea.

Consequently, the role President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is playing and his commitment to regional and global peace, adherence to the rule of law and the efforts to align the definition of our territory and maritime zones according to the tenets of international law will ultimately define the future of our country.

While the Philippines “continuously tries to find ways to de-escalate tensions in contested areas with our counterparts, without compromising our position and our principles,” we recognize that “proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under rules-based international order” are the only acceptable means of settling disputes. At the same time, we will continue “strengthening our defensive posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states,” the President highlighted in his third State of the Nation Address.

President Marcos has definitely set the country’s foreign policy towards the right path, doing what is best for our national interest, putting into good use available mechanisms such as the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that his predecessors put into place.

This was evident in the recent 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue that took place in Manila – the first one held in the Philippines since it was started in 2012 – between the Philippines and the US that shows the evolution of the relationship between our two countries into what it is today: ironclad, stable and responsive to an “increasingly complex environment” in the region and the world.

As stated in the Joint Statement issued by both sides, the nature of threats in various domains including land, sea, air, space and cyberspace – and the effective responses to such threats – were discussed.

The United States’ commitment in allocating $500 million in military funding to boost the external defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard – an “unprecedented investment” – demonstrates the stronger alliance we have achieved in just two years of the Marcos presidency.

This is only the beginning, as we are working with the many friends in the US Congress that we have developed during my years in Washington, where we can expect more funds to enhance our military modernization efforts. I am extremely pleased to note that we have strong bipartisan support from the US Congress, as demonstrated by the bipartisan bill introduced by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia for $2.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing from 2025 to 2029 to make sure that we would have the wherewithal to be a real “partner” not only to the United States but with other allied countries as well.

Those who say that we are placing our country and our people in harm’s way are totally wrong and do not understand what real geopolitics is all about. We are not “siding” with the United States – we are simply doing what is in our best interest and being part of a broader coalition of like-minded countries.

In fact, so many like-minded nations are coming together to ensure freedom of navigation, recognizing the critical importance of a rules-based international order to maintain peace and security in the region – which serves as a testament to the keen insight and wisdom of the President in highlighting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award as solid foundations for the peaceful resolution and management of disputes.

Aside from the VFA with the United States, we now have a 2007 Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia. Last month, Japan and the Philippines signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement to facilitate mutual visits between Filipino and Japanese armed forces for training and joint exercises and enhance cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response measures.

France and the Philippines have also started discussions for an RAA that would allow troops from both sides to conduct joint exercises in each other’s territory. During his visit to Malacañang in April, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon committed to the signing of a defense cooperation agreement similar to the VFA by the end of 2024. Canada is also hoping to conclude talks on a possible SOVFA within the next couple of months.

Vietnam, on the other hand, is ready to hold discussions with the Philippines regarding conflicting claims in the South China Sea. Other claimant countries are also willing to come to an agreement with us and find a solution on the challenges posed by China’s expansive claims with its so-called 9 (or is it 10)-dash line which the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated as without legal basis.

While in Manila this week, I engaged with some of our partners, friends and allies. I had lunch meetings with Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils and had brief discussions with other diplomats who continue to support us, lauding the President’s foreign policy direction.

These recent developments did not happen by accident but by design – clearly indicating that the President’s foreign policy is on the right path. To this end, we continue to reach out to some misguided Filipinos who are out of tune with the reality we face, reminding me of that old Spanish saying – “somos o no somos” – or in Tagalog: “magkasama ba tayo o hindi?”

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]