President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday described the 80th anniversary of Philippine-United States diplomatic relations as a chance to reaffirm and expand the long-standing alliance, stressing its role in national and regional security.
Speaking at the launch of the official anniversary logo in Malacañang, Marcos cited eight decades of cooperation covering defense, maritime security, law enforcement, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, transport, labor, health, education, disaster response, tourism, and culture.
“Any enduring relationship requires commitment and sustained effort, and we have certainly done the needed work today that cooperation is broad and it is comprehensive,” Marcos said.
He noted that the partnership is now expanding into emerging areas such as cybersecurity and outer space cooperation, bolstered by continued high-level engagements, including his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Our positive initial engagement provided renewed momentum for sustained high-level exchanges, and, more importantly, it reaffirmed the foundational groundwork that continues to strengthen our alliance,” he added.
The anniversary logo, jointly designed by the Philippine Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Manila, features elements of both national flags to symbolize shared values and cooperation.
Marcos also acknowledged Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez and the U.S.-Philippines Society for helping strengthen bilateral ties.
As ASEAN chair this year, Marcos said the Philippines looks forward to continued U.S. support for regional initiatives and expressed hope of hosting Trump in Manila during the ASEAN Summit later this year.