(The author’s prepared remarks at the Rotary Club of Manila on Dec. 5, 2024.)
I’VE been asked to speak to you today about the role of the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Philippines in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. That phrase, known as VUCA, certainly characterizes the world we live in, including here in Southeast Asia, where we see state actors undermining international rules and norms, the continued threat of violent extremism, and the unpredictable and increasingly damaging effects of climate change.
So, how do we face such turmoil? What is a strategic approach that can help us survive — and maybe even thrive — when the path ahead appears rocky and unclear? Political scientists, social scientists, economists and others have different perspectives on the best way to tackle this era of unprecedented challenges. My perspective is, of course, the diplomatic, national security-focused view. In my 39 years as a diplomat, I’ve seen some turbulent times. And in my opinion, the best way to counter that turbulence is to promote, foster and nurture stable relationships, like the US-Philippine bilateral relationship.
For over seven decades, the US-Philippine relationship — anchored on our security alliance, economic ties, and cultural and historical connections — has fostered peace and stability in Southeast Asia and in the broader region. In the past two years, we have made incredible strides in strengthening the foundation of that relationship, ensuring its persistent durability and stability in the face of an increasingly chaotic world.
Let me start with security. The US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty has helped maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region since 1951. This foundational agreement — the United States’ oldest treaty alliance in Asia — has been further strengthened by the bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA. These three agreements have, over decades, facilitated strong ties between the militaries of our two countries.
Today, our forces work shoulder to shoulder during complex exercises, such as Balikatan, to increase interoperability. We’ve also seen them come together when disaster strikes. Confronting the seven major storms that struck the Philippines this year, our forces collaborated with the Philippine Office of Civil Defense and the US Agency for International Development to bring badly needed relief supplies to communities in need.
In the past two years, we have also successfully negotiated additional agreements that strengthen the foundation of our security relationship. These include our Bilateral Defense Guidelines, signed in 2023; the Philippines Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, signed in July; and our General Security of Military Information Agreement, signed by Defense Secretaries Lloyd Austin and Gilberto Teodoro Jr. just a few weeks ago. The Defense Guidelines, Assistance Roadmap, Military Information Agreement, and numerous other initiatives that the US government has undertaken with the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines over the past two years ensure our security relationship will continue to advance regional stability. The US is not alone in recognizing the importance of the Philippines in this effort. Japan, Australia, Canada, our counterparts in the European Union, and other like-minded partners are strengthening their security relationships with the Philippines — with the Philippine Congress poised to approve the Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement soon.
But our mil-to-mil relationship is but one part of the equation. As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said, economic security is national security. The US shares this view, as shown by the emphasis we have placed on bolstering our economic and commercial relationships over the past two years. In March of this year, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo led the first-of-its-kind US Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, during which American businesses committed to over P50 billion in investments in multiple sectors.
A month later, in April, during the historic Trilateral Leaders Meeting at the White House, Presidents Joe Biden and Marcos and then-Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida announced the creation of the Luzon Economic Corridor, which seeks to rally the public and private sectors of our three countries to bring greater infrastructure investment connecting Subic Bay to Batangas, a region that accounts for over 40 percent of the Philippines’ economic activity.
In May, the Philippines played host to the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, a jointly organized event that brought more than 700 business and government leaders together from the US, Philippines and across the Indo-Pacific to seek better ways to strengthen business ties and build resiliency into our economic systems.
We continue to work with Philippine partners on consequential issues such as energy security, workforce development, and both basic and higher education. This comprehensive approach to our economic and commercial engagement builds a stable economic future for future generations.
Finally, underpinning everything we do — diplomatic, military, economic — is our strong people-to-people ties. The US States is home to nearly 4.5 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans, and over 700,000 US citizens are in the Philippines at any given time, either as permanent residents or as tourists. This year, our embassy processed more visas than ever before and sent the most Filipinos to study at US higher education institutions in more than 15 years.
When the USS Ronald Reagan visited Manila, the captain told me fully 10 percent of his crew traced their origins to the Philippines. A US investor chose a site in Luzon to build a manufacturing facility because of his experiences visiting the Philippines and seeing the talent and know-how of the people. There is no substitute for this strong bond of friendship — it does not only form the foundation of our work together, but also serves as a dynamic springboard to explore new opportunities and expand our horizons. The ties between the citizens of our two countries run deep, are incredibly powerful, and have been a great source of personal meaning and pride for me as ambassador.
We need strong, stable relationships to face the volatility in the world today. That’s why the US is committed to nurturing and strengthening ties with the Philippines as steadfast friends, partners in prosperity and ironclad allies — the vaunted #FriendsPartnersAllies hashtag those of you who follow us on social media have noticed we use so often. No doubt, the US-Philippine relationship will become more important as we face the pressures of a VUCA world. It is essential that we continue to work together to maintain the positive momentum we have generated over the past years and foster greater stability in this region and in the world.
MaryKay Carlson is the United States ambassador to the Philippines.
