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US President-elect Donald Trump dances at the end of a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/file

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a campaign rally

Victoria Tulad

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173105412766620241108081112_20241027-trump=elections-us-AFP-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="US President-elect Donald Trump dances at the end of a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/file"/>US President-elect Donald Trump dances at the end of a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/file</div>MANILA — Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez sees no change in the defense relationship of the Philippines and United States (US) under another Donald Trump administration. According to Romualdez, the US defense establishment sees the Philippines as an “important partner” especially with Manila&#x27;s territorial dispute between China. “The defense establishment here in the United States is a pretty much established institution that most of the time most presidents will always listen to what the defense establishment when they are briefed on what is important for the security and for the interest of the United States. That has remained that way for some time and it will continue to do so. And I don’t see any real major changes in that policy because as I said, it is important for the United States that the South China Sea remains free,” Romualdez said in a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) on Friday.He said the first Trump administration had already declared an ironclad commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines and is convinced the policy will remain.Romualdez aso believes Trump values Washington&#x27;s alliance with the Philippines.“He (Trump) was the one who said that the Philippines, it’s because of geographical location, is one of the most expensive real estate,” Romualdez said. “I think at the end of the day it is really a quid pro quo meaning it is important for us to have this relationship and it is also important for the United States that we continue to have this, we honor this commitment of having the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) and the Visiting Forces Agreement and more importantly the MDT that has been around since 1951.”Romualdez believes the US will come to the aid of the Philippines in the event that it faces heightened conflict, and that the US presence will remain in the Indo-Pacific. “It’s because it is in their interest that Indo-Pacific region remains free and clear,” Romualdez explained. He said they do hope for a phone call or interaction between Trump and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the future. <div>ECONOMIC PARTNERS </div>For Romualdez, it is the economic relations with the US that the Philippines should watch out for since the former is in need of supply chains, particularly for semiconductors. “The Philippines is one of those that’s been identified for instance as a trusted partner when it comes to semiconductors,” Romualdez said. “I think we will be able to come out with a strategy where it would be again based on mutual benefit, that is mutually beneficial.” He added that there are also possible ventures in the energy sector. Changes in the economy of the US will surely be forthcoming, according to Romualdez, since Trump promised to bring back jobs to their country.<div>PH ON ‘RIGHT TRACK’ IN DOING RESUPPLY MISSIONS</div>Meanwhile, despite an offer by the United States to escort Manila’s resupply missions to outposts in the West Philippine Sea, a ranking official of the National Security Council said the Philippines will continue to conduct such operations on its own, without outside help.NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the Philippine government is on the “right track” in keeping the resupply missions a Philippine mission.“We appreciate the offer of the United States to escort our resupply missions… However, it was the decision of the Philippine government to keep all our resupply missions, especially to Ayungin Shoal, manned by Philippine vessels, manned by Filipino crew and under Philippine supervision,” Malaya said during the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea held in Taguig City on Friday.He added, bringing in a superpower such as the US in these missions will only escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.“It is possible for the Philippines, without superpower help, to be able to settle some of these disputes. I think the Philippine government took the right track because bringing in the US… will be seen by China as being provocative,” the official explained.Washington had earlier offered to escort Manila’s resupply missions to the West Philippine Sea, following Beijing’s intensified efforts to block them, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.Brawner made the statement after meeting with US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo in Baguio City in August.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez sees no change in the defense relationship of the Philippines and United States (US) under another Donald Trump administration.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez sees no change in the defense relationship of the Philippines and United States (US) under another Donald Trump administration.

Philippine-US defense ties to remain stable under Trump: envoy

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Philippine-US defense ties to remain stable under Trump: envoy

Victoria Tulad,

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 08, 2024 04:23 PM PHT

Read More:

US

US-PH relations

defense

West Philippine Sea

Donald Trump

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