The following information is attributable to Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila to reinforce the solid alliance between the United States and the Philippines and reassert their shared commitment to a free and open Indo‑Pacific. The pair emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and celebrated the tenth anniversary of the July 2016 Arbitral Award, underscoring that China’s expansive maritime claims lack any legal basis.
They discussed progress on the Luzon Economic Corridor, highlighting the Department of State’s pledge—working with Congress—to provide more than $100 million in new foreign assistance for infrastructure upgrades and logistics, energy projects, and port development in Subic. The meeting also covered the forthcoming Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, scheduled for September.
Secretary Rubio and President Marcos explored opportunities related to the Philippines’ membership in Pax Silica, including hosting the initiative’s inaugural Economic Security Zone in Clark. Rubio also praised the deployment of the Expeditionary Cutter Squadron, which will operate from forward locations in Singapore and the Philippines to enhance maritime interoperability and support shared regional security objectives.
Through a five‑year, jointly funded Health Strategic Objective Agreement, they reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing the spread of infectious diseases, improving health outcomes, and building a resilient and sustainable health system in the Philippines.
