Marcos assured of US 'ironclad' commitment

The Manila Times

Marcos assured of US 'ironclad' commitment  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at the Pentagon on Friday, April 12, 2024 (local time). The US assured Marcos of its 'ironclad' commitment to defend the Philippines in any attack in the South China Sea following the country's repeated clashes with China, which lays claim to the entire waterway.  Video Courtesy of Presidential Communications Office  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook   Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram   Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter   DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion     Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital     Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify   Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts   Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic   Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #themanilatimes  #philippines #biden   #china

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC]

00:10 >> We have achieved a great deal since your visit almost a year ago, and

00:16 our alliance has never been stronger.

00:18 We've strengthened interoperability between our forces to tackle common

00:23 challenges.

00:25 We've expanded our operational coordination on land,

00:29 again made clear yesterday, our commitment to the defense of the Philippines is

00:33 ironclad.

00:33 An armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels,

00:39 our countries have invested significant time and

00:42 resources to address our shared security challenges.

00:47 We're gonna keep building our partnership.

00:48 President Biden's new budget request seeks $128 million to execute 36 projects

00:56 that enhance defense cooperation agreement sites.

01:00 And that would more than double the amount that we've invested in infrastructure.

01:04 All this underscores the strength of our alliance, Mr. President.

01:09 So I look forward to hearing your views on how we can keep working together more

01:14 closely than ever.

01:16 >> For hosting us once again here in the Pentagon, and thank you for

01:20 your kind words for our fallen servicemen who were involved in the accident.

01:27 I agree of this visit here to the Pentagon reaffirms once again,

01:32 the strength of the relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

01:38 In the face of all of the threats and challenges that we have had to face

01:44 together, the Philippines has always been able

01:50 to look to the United States for support.

01:56 And we hope that this trilateral agreement,

02:01 which we formalized yesterday, will be a natural support and

02:07 a structure that will make the safety, the peace, and

02:12 the stability of the South China Sea a reality and continue to be a reality.

02:20 We have done much work since the last time we met,

02:22 not as a response to any particular challenge or threat,

02:30 but merely a continuing development and evolution of the relationship

02:36 that we have been fostering over 100 years.

02:40 It's getting closer and working together and

02:45 in closer coordination so as to be able to provide

02:51 defense of international law and international rule of the UNCLOS,

02:59 especially in the differing

03:04 claims that we are having to deal with in the South China Sea.

03:09 Thank you once again for this opportunity for us to consult with you and

03:15 to see what more it is that we can do in the future.

03:20 Thank you very much, Secretary.

03:22 >> And Mr. President, welcome.

03:23 We're delighted to have you here and I look forward to a great conversation.

03:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]

03:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Recommended