Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Handout photo, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Article (news)

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/1739603888100GjyZkJLacAEa54L.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Handout photo, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The US wants &quot;an even more invested and enduring relationship&quot; with the Philippines, its Department of State said Saturday, citing a meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and US State Secretary Marco Rubio in Munich.</p><p>According to a readout provided by department spokesperon Tammy Bruce, Manalo and Rubio met at the Munich Security Conference, the annual meeting in Germany on international security issues.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/13/chinese-navy-ships-spotted-in-ph-us-canada-patrols-in-west-ph-sea-1813">Chinese navy ships spotted in PH-US-Canada patrols in West PH Sea</a></div><p>&quot;Secretary Rubio not only reaffirmed US commitment to the United States-Philippines Alliance, but noted his enthusiasm for building an even more invested and enduring relationship,&quot; Bruce said.</p><p>The meeting comes amid a shakeup caused by a freeze on US foreign aid that has affected <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/12/doh-says-it-has-enough-money-for-hiv-aids-programs-despite-us-aid-freeze-1858">government</a> and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/2/5/loveyourself-usaid-freeze-affects-free-delivery-service-0043">civil society programs</a> — especially on HIV and AIDS — in the Philippines, an attempt by the Donald Trump administration to cut government staff, and the continuing presence of People&#x27;s Republic of China ships in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/13/deped-to-exhaust-all-means-to-soften-impact-of-freeze-on-usaid-projects-1748">DepEd to &#x27;exhaust all means&#x27; to soften impact of freeze on USAID projects</a></div><p>The US has reiterated its <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/6/us-defense-chief-reaffirms-ironclad-commitment-to-ph-on-mutual-defense-1359">&quot;ironclad commitment&quot;</a> to the Philippines, with which it has a mutual defense treaty and visiting forces agreement, and Philippine officials <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/25/no-major-change-in-ph-us-relations-if-trump-wins-romualdez-841">do not expect that commitment to change</a>.</p><p>Bruce said Manalo and Rubio discussed working together &quot;on addressing China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea&quot; as well as increasing economic cooperation on infrastructure, minerals, IT and energy.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/9/us-ph-deal-on-peaceful-uses-of-nuclear-energy-officially-takes-effect-902">US-Philippine deal on peaceful uses of nuclear energy takes effect</a></div>

<p>According to a readout provided by department spokesperon Tammy Bruce, Manalo and Rubio met at the Munich Security Conference, the annual meeting in Germany on international security issues.</p>

According to a readout provided by department spokesperon Tammy Bruce, Manalo and Rubio met at the Munich Security Conference, the annual meeting in Germany on international security issues.

Manalo, Rubio discuss ‘more invested and enduring relationship’ in Munich meet

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Manalo, Rubio discuss ‘more invested and enduring relationship’ in Munich meet

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 15, 2025 09:36 AM PHT

|

Updated February 22, 2025 08:44 PM PHT

Read More:

United States

Philippines

Marco Rubio

Enrique Manalo

US State Department

Department of Foreign Affairs

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