Blinken says Phl-US alliance in 'hyperdrive'

Biden sets one-on-one talk with Marcos at White House

- PIA LEE-BRAGO and HELEN FLORES

The alliance between the Philippines and the United States is in “hyperdrive” as the two allies deal with “shared concern” about Chinese actions that threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea, visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday.

“We have been in hyperdrive and that is demonstrated by results we achieved and our commitment to doing more together in the interests of both countries,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

“The alliance has never been stronger. We need not only sustain but to continue to accelerate the momentum,” he said.

He described as “extraordinary” the strengthening of ties between the Philippines and the US.

Blinken made the pronouncement as Washington announced that President Biden would have a one-on-one meeting with President Marcos at the White House on April 11 to discuss expanded security and economic cooperation, as well as human rights and democracy.

The meeting will be on the sidelines of the first trilateral US-Japan-Philippines leaders’ summit on the same day.

Later yesterday, Blinken paid a courtesy call on President Marcos.

At the briefing with Manalo, Blinken reiterated the US’s “ironclad” commitment to come to the defense of the Philippines, as stipulated in the two countries’ 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.