Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III convened the fourth Philippines-United States 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Manila on July 30, 2024 — the first to be held in Manila.
The Secretaries discussed opportunities to further enhance both countries' commitment to the Philippines-United States Alliance and concrete ways to achieve enhanced economic ties and broad-based prosperity. They also exchanged views on persistent challenges to regional peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.
The Secretaries reviewed historic achievements in bilateral relations since the third 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in April 2023. They outlined specific measures to further operationalize President Marcos's and President Biden's "shared vision of partnership, peace, and prosperity."
Both sides celebrated progress in the Philippines-United States Alliance over the past two years. The Secretaries reiterated the importance of the security alliance and shared commitments under the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in an increasingly complex environment. They reaffirmed that this treaty extends to armed attacks against either country's armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels — including those of their coast guards — anywhere in the South China Sea.
They also recognized that modernizing defense and civilian law enforcement capabilities is crucial for ensuring individual and collective security. Understanding interoperability's importance across various domains such as land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace was highlighted.
Several commitments were made:
- Allocate USD $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) from FY 2024 Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.
- Establish a Roles, Missions, Capabilities (RMC) Working Group.
- Implement a finalized Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap (P-SSAR).
- Increase investments in EDCA agreed locations with additional funding.
- Conclude a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) by end of 2024.
- Advance cybersecurity cooperation by investing in Philippine cybersecurity capabilities.
- Bolster maritime cooperative activities with partners like Australia and Japan.
The dialogue also emphasized fostering economic resilience for a prosperous future through initiatives like increasing trade with diverse partners and deterring potential economic coercion.
Key dialogues included:
1. Technical Aviation Dialogue
2. Joint Committee on Science and Technology
3. Luzon Economic Corridor Steering Committee
4. Space Dialogue
5. Cyber-Digital Policy Dialogue
To sustain momentum:
1. Follow through on discussions related to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), among others.
2. Identify priority projects for investment along Luzon Economic Corridor later this year.
3. Work towards completing a Threshold Program Agreement between MCC and Philippines.
4. Continue collaborating on resilient global value chains especially semiconductors.
5. Convene a second U.S.-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue later this year.
The dialogue underscored respect for international law within Indo-Pacific while addressing issues like dangerous behavior in South China Sea over past year resulting in injury/property damage.
Finally:
1.The inaugural Philippine-U.S Democracy Dialogue will be convened late 2024 focusing on enhancing bilateral relationship anchored on shared democratic values/principles;
2.Support ongoing USAID higher education partnerships strengthening Philippine education system working with universities expanding innovation/entrepreneurship/workforce development capabilities.
