Marcos joins Biden, Japan’s Kishida for historic trilateral summit

Washington, DC – President Bongbong Marcos joined President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Thursday for a historic trilateral summit. The landmark meeting marks President Marcos’ fourth visit to the United States, his second to the White House and the first-ever trilateral summit of this kind.

As with previous US visits, when President Marcos arrived at the White House, he was met with protesters in Lafayette Park chanting, “Marcos is not welcome here; the Philippines is not for sale.”

The trilateral meeting was convened to explore ways in which the United States, the Philippines and Japan could deepen their defense and security cooperation in response to China’s rising provocations. In his speech, Pres. Marcos highlighted the significance of the pact, describing it as “born not out of convenience or expediency, but as the natural progression of a deepening relationship and robust cooperation among our three nations.” He emphasized the shared ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. “Today’s historic summit is the culmination of several preparatory engagements,” Marcos said, according to a White House press pool report.

Pres. Bongbong Marcos joined Pres. Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Thursday for a historic trilateral summit. Photo from White House Press Office

Marcos also highlighted the summit’s potential as a starting point for collaborative efforts to tackle the era’s challenging issues, underlining a shared commitment to a rules-based international order. He presented a vision for the future that includes economic growth, climate resiliency, sustainable development and a peaceful world for future generations.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the need for multi-layered cooperation in the face of global crises and the preservation of a free and open international order based on the rule of law. He recognized the natural connection between the maritime nations of Japan, the US and the Philippines, linked by the Pacific Ocean and shared values.

President Biden hailed the summit as the beginning of “a new era of partnership,” emphasizing the Indo-Pacific region’s role in shaping global history. He reaffirmed the country’s unwavering defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines, stressing the Mutual Defense Treaty’s scope, which includes the South China Sea.

The trilateral summit illustrates the expanding strategic cooperation among the United States, the Philippines and Japan, as well as the importance of working together to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Photo from White House Press Office

The meeting was attended by Filipino senior officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, and other notable figures from defense, trade, energy, communications and security sectors.

At the summit’s conclusion, the three world leaders issued a joint vision statement in which they reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and collaboration, as well as their support for ASEAN’s centrality, Pacific Island countries and the Blue Pacific Continent 2050 Strategy.

In addition to the trilateral discussions, Marcos and Biden talked about the progress of US-Philippines relations during a bilateral meeting that took place before the summit with Kishida. Efforts discussed included economic and energy security, maritime cooperation and the reinforcement of democratic and human rights principles.

The meeting highlighted the enduring strength of the US-Philippines partnership by showcasing initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth, investing in infrastructure and supporting democracy and human rights. It underscored the two countries’ commitment to reinforcing their strong friendship through future investments and collaborations.

The trilateral summit illustrates the expanding strategic cooperation among the United States, the Philippines and Japan, as well as the importance of working together to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. —With reports from Georgio Dano and the White House Press Office