Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Maritime security, trade cooperation, and regional stability were among the key issues discussed during Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s official visit to the Netherlands, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.</p><p>Lazaro was in the Netherlands from May 17 to 19 as the Philippines and the Netherlands marked 75 years of diplomatic relations. </p><p>The trip was the first official visit by a Philippine foreign affairs secretary to the European country in more than three decades.</p><p>During her meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen on May 18, both sides issued a joint statement committing to regular political and economic consultations and expanded cooperation in areas including maritime security, trade and investment, climate action, and transnational crime.</p><p>The two governments also identified water management, semiconductors, renewable energy, and smart agriculture as potential areas for deeper economic cooperation.</p><p>The visit comes as the Philippines continues to strengthen ties with European partners amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea and broader geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific region.</p><p>In their discussions, Lazaro and Berendsen raised concerns over developments in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of the 2016 arbitral ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the disputed waters.</p><p>Both sides said the ruling remains legally binding and stressed the need for diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful settlement of disputes.</p><p>The Philippines has repeatedly protested incidents involving Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, including confrontations near Philippine resupply missions and fishing grounds within the country’s exclusive economic zone.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/national-maritime-council-condemns-presence-of-chinese-research-vessels-in-ph-waters-1537"><strong>National Maritime Council condemns presence of Chinese research vessels in PH waters</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/dnd-afp-reject-china-s-claims-assert-sovereignty-over-west-philippine-sea-features-1138"><strong>DND, AFP reject China’s claims, assert sovereignty over West Philippine Sea features</strong></a></div><div><strong>PH’S ROLE IN ASEAN</strong></div><p>Lazaro also spoke at a forum organized by the Clingendael Institute and the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, where she discussed the Philippines’ role as this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/5/asean-2026-to-focus-on-energy-security-disaster-resilience-1549"><strong>ASEAN 2026 to focus on energy security, disaster resilience</strong></a></div><p>In her talk titled “Navigating Turbulence: Windmills, Balangays and the Architecture of Peace,” Lazaro used the allegories of two important historical elements in the Netherlands and the Philippines.</p><p>Lazaro said Dutch windmills and the Philippines’ ancient balangay boats symbolize resilience and adaptability in times of uncertainty. </p><p>She noted that windmills harness strong winds for energy instead of resisting them, while balangays navigated dangerous seas rather than avoiding storms altogether.</p><p>Using the analogy, the foreign affairs chief said countries must pursue peace through cooperation and diplomacy, especially amid rising global tensions, increasing isolationism, and the growing use of economic ties as geopolitical tools.</p><p>She also noted that both the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union were formed in the aftermath of conflict and are anchored on the principle that “might does not make right.”</p><p>Lazaro added that the Philippines and the Netherlands still have significant opportunities to further expand bilateral relations.</p><p>She said countries should pursue cooperation and dialogue despite increasing geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation.</p><p>Her visit also included a meeting with officials of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where she reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to resolving disputes through international law.</p><p>Lazaro likewise witnessed the turnover of the Philippines’ voluntary contribution to The Hague Academy of International Law, which supports scholarship programs for legal scholars.</p><p>Officials of Dutch non-government organization The Ocean Cleanup also briefed Lazaro on ongoing projects in the Pasig and Meycauayan rivers aimed at reducing plastic pollution before it reaches the sea.</p><p>The secretary later met members of the Filipino community and business groups in the Netherlands, where discussions also touched on economic ties and the proposed Philippines-European Union free trade agreement.</p><p>The Netherlands is one of the Philippines’ top trading and investment partners in Europe. Dutch companies operating in the Philippines include Shell, ING Bank, Philips, FrieslandCampina, and Nexperia.</p><p>Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands were established in 1951.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BQfrrx66mVc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Maritime security, trade cooperation, and regional stability were among the key issues discussed during Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s official visit to the Netherlands, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.</p>

Maritime security, trade cooperation, and regional stability were among the key issues discussed during Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s official visit to the Netherlands, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

DFA chief Lazaro visit to Netherlands tackles maritime security, PH-EU ties

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DFA chief Lazaro visit to Netherlands tackles maritime security, PH-EU ties

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2026 08:15 PM PHT

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ASEAN

Netherlands

Lazaro

DFA

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