Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a conversation with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of the Philippines, expressing gratitude for the strong partnership between the two nations. This collaboration has been fostered over the past two and a half years through multiple meetings held in Manila, Washington, D.C., Jakarta, and San Francisco.
Harris emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Philippines Alliance and its role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The discussion highlighted progress made under the Biden-Harris Administration, particularly initiatives from Harris's November 2022 visit to the Philippines. These initiatives focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as climate change, clean energy, technology, critical minerals and semiconductor supply chains, maritime security, and inclusive economic growth.
The Vice President also reflected on her visit to Palawan in the Philippines, marking it as the highest-ranking visit by a U.S. official to date. She reiterated her support for those she met there, including women from the fishing community of Tagburos and members of the Philippine Coast Guard.
During their call, Harris stressed "the importance of continued defense of international rules and norms in the South China Sea" amidst provocations from China. She assured that "the United States must stand with the Philippines" against such challenges while reaffirming U.S. defense commitments to its ally.
Additionally, they discussed trilateral cooperation with Japan as an essential component of regional security. Harris noted her role in advancing this cooperation through "the first leader-level trilateral meeting in Jakarta in September 2023."
