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President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. welcomes United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and United States Secretary of StateAntony Blinken during a joint courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. welcomes United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and United States Secretary of StateAntony Blinken during a joint courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. 

Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

Article (news)

MARCOS-Blinken-Austiin

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172231474656720240730-malacanang-austin-blinken-PPA17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. welcomes United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and United States Secretary of StateAntony Blinken during a joint courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. welcomes United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and United States Secretary of StateAntony Blinken during a joint courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. <em>Yummie Dingding, PPA pool</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Tuesday met with the United States’ top diplomat and defense officials in Malacañang as the Philippines and the United States seek to further strengthen the alliance of both countries.</p><p>Marcos Jr received US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Secretary Antony Blinken, who are currently in Manila to meet their Philippine counterparts Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, for the 4th Philippine-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) which will also be held Tuesday, July 30.</p><p>&quot;Welcome back to the Philippines. And I am always very happy that these communication lines are very open so that all the things that we are doing together in terms of our alliance, in terms of a specific context of our situation here in the West Philippine Sea, in the Indo-Pacific, are continuously examined and re-examined, so we are agile in terms of our responses,&quot; Marcos Jr told Blinken and Austin.</p><p>&quot;But we are very happy to see you once again. I&#x27;m a bit surprised considering how interesting your political situation has become back in the States, but I&#x27;m glad that you found the time to come and visit with us,&quot; he continued.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/30/philippines-to-receive-500m-in-military-aid-from-us-during-blinken-austin-visit-1029">READ: Philippines to receive $500M in military aid from US during Blinken, Austin visit</a></div><p>Secretary Blinken meanwhile called the 2+2 meetings &quot;genuinely historic,&quot; noting that it is the first time for the Philippines to host the dialogue.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s, I think, really evidence of a steady drumbeat of very high-level engagements between our countries that are covering the full range of issues and opportunities that bring us together, not only security, but also economic, and we&#x27;re truly grateful for this partnership,&quot; he said.</p><p>Secretary Austin for his part acknowledged the recent gains of the two allied countries to further strengthen their bilateral relationship.</p><p>&quot;You know, we have common interests, common values, and so I think we&#x27;ve done a lot over the last three and a half years to continue to strengthen our alliance, and we look forward to continuing to work with you and your team to move even further,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;But thanks for your leadership, Mr. President. Again, it&#x27;s been a great three and a half years, and I look forward to another three and a half, or another four, in building, strengthening this relationship.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Well, I think that the, what is, all of the things that we have done in the previous months has been really, serve really to make all our alliances and partnerships more, actually have a working, a working relationship, in the sense that lines of communications have been opened, and it&#x27;s, again, we are doing many more things together,&quot; Marcos responded.</p><p>The American officials also extended their condolences following the devastation brought about by the enhanced monsoon and typhoon Carina, and expressed willingness to extend help to the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;Let me just start by sending our deepest condolences to all the victims of the recent typhoon, and to say again, anything we can do to be of assistance, we welcome doing that,&quot; Blinken said.</p><p>&quot;Mr. President, let me echo Tony&#x27;s comments on the warm welcome. It really is great to be back in the country again, and also his offer of condolences for those who have been affected by the storm,&quot; Austin added. &quot;You know, I&#x27;ve said a number of times that we&#x27;re more than allies, we&#x27;re family, and it always feels that way when, you know, I&#x27;m working with our colleagues.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/7/27/blinken-hits-out-at-china-s-unlawful-actions-in-south-china-sea-1605">READ: Blinken hits out at China&#x27;s &#x27;unlawful actions&#x27; in South China Sea</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Tuesday met with the United States’ top diplomat and defense officials in Malacañang as the Philippines and the United States seek to further strengthen the alliance of both countries.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Tuesday met with the United States’ top diplomat and defense officials in Malacañang as the Philippines and the United States seek to further strengthen the alliance of both countries.

Marcos Jr receives Blinken, Austin in Malacañang

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Marcos Jr receives Blinken, Austin in Malacañang

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2024 10:57 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 30, 2024 12:46 PM PHT

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