President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during his working visit to New York City next week, with the escalating conflict in the Middle East expected to dominate their discussions.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the President’s engagements at the United Nations, where Marcos is scheduled to address a special session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to Angelica Escalona, spokesperson and Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the talks will primarily focus on developments in the Middle East while reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to the UN system.
“He (Marcos) will also reiterate the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations and to multilateralism,” Escalona said.
Escalona clarified that no bilateral meetings with other world leaders are scheduled during the trip. A meeting with Donald Trump is not part of the President’s itinerary, and Marcos will also not hold a gathering with members of the Filipino community in the United States due to the short duration of the visit.
The President is likewise expected to attend the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN’s principal intergovernmental body dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Marcos’ visit to the UN comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to intensify, a situation closely monitored by Manila due to its potential impact on global oil prices and the safety of millions of overseas Filipino workers in the region.