Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are welcomed by US Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff at their residence in US Naval Observatory, Washington D.C., U.S.A. on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. KJ Rosales, PPA pool/File

Article (news)

MARCOS-US-VISIT

Katrina Domingo

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/173690475105820230502-US-marcos-harris-PPA--10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are welcomed by US Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff at their residence in US Naval Observatory, Washington D.C., U.S.A. on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. KJ Rosales, PPA pool/File</span></span></span></div><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — “There is bipartisan support” for the United States to continue strengthening its ties with the Philippines, US Vice President Kamala Harris told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, days before she ends her term as the second-highest official of the Philippines’ traditional ally.</p><p>Marcos Jr. and Harris spoke through a phone call on Tuesday evening, less than a week before Donald Trump — who is known for his protectionist policies — returns to the helm of the United States, the Philippines’ largest supporter against China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;I know there is bipartisan support within the United States Congress and within the US for the strength of this relationship and the enduring nature of it in terms of security, prosperity and to your point of people-to-people ties,&quot; Harris said.</p><p>“It is extremely important to me and to the United States that we reaffirm the commitment to the defense of the Philippines including the South China Sea,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/7/harris-gracious-in-defeat-as-congress-certifies-trump-s-election-1637">Harris gracious in defeat as Congress certifies Trump&#x27;s election</a></div><p>Marcos thanked Harris for helping deepen ties between Manila and Washington, particularly in the economic, diplomatic, defense and security sectors.</p><p>“It is remarkable how much work we have been able to do and how much it has progressed and developed the relationship between our two countries,” the Filipino President said.</p><p>“Already a very strong relationship but evolving and evolving for the modern challenges that we face, both for us and the South China Sea and for the United States around the world,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/04/24/china-holds-navy-air-patrols-in-south-china-sea">China slams &#x27;provocative&#x27; US moves in South China Sea</a></div><p>Marcos underscored the importance of the trilateral agreement signed by the Philippines, US and Japan in April 2024.</p><p>&quot;As I told President Biden when I spoke to him… this will change the dynamic of the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific, and it certainly has done that,&quot; Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/13/ph-us-japan-vow-to-strengthen-trilateral-agreement-0949">PH, US, Japan commit to trilateral partnership as Biden’s White House exit looms</a></div><p>The Philippines hopes &quot;to build on that and continue to work&quot; with the US on programs that are grounded on shared values and international law, he said.</p><p>Before the telephone call ended, Marcos Jr. invited Harris to visit the Philippines again.</p><p>Marcos Jr. and Harris met at least 5 times between 2022 and 2024 in Manila, Jakarta, San Francisco and Washington DC.</p><p>Their phone call came days after Marcos spoke to outgoing US President Joe Biden in a trilateral video call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.</p><p>Trump’s return to power has worried several analysts as the Republican leader repeatedly said that he would reduce US funding for its foreign partners and launch a new crackdown on immigrants in the world’s largest economy.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/7/17/trump-says-taiwan-should-pay-us-for-defence-against-china-1629">Trump says Taiwan &#x27;should pay&#x27; US for defence against China</a></div><p>Trump will be sworn into office on January 20. Marcos  was not invited to the event, but will be represented by US Ambassador to the Philippines Jose Manuel Romualdez.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/14/trump-unbound-america-braces-for-wild-dark-comeback-1036">Trump unbound: America braces for wild, dark comeback</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nZnhGuf5kDw" title="Philippines alarmed after China sends &#x27;monster ship&#x27; to disputed shoal | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-tTeuWAk_r4" title="Trump invites China&#x27;s Xi Jinping to attend inauguration - report | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>“There is bipartisan support” for the United States to continue strengthening its ties with the Philippines, US Vice President Kamala Harris told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, days before she ends her term as the second-highest official of the Philippines’ traditional ally.</p>

“There is bipartisan support” for the United States to continue strengthening its ties with the Philippines, US Vice President Kamala Harris told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, days before she ends her term as the second-highest official of the Philippines’ traditional ally.

Harris affirms ‘bipartisan support’ for stronger US-PH ties in final days before Trump

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Harris affirms ‘bipartisan support’ for stronger US-PH ties in final days before Trump

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 15, 2025 09:38 AM PHT

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Updated January 15, 2025 09:51 AM PHT

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