April 16, 2024
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed optimism that the “ironclad” commitment of the United States to its defence treaty with the Philippines will remain constant and is “beyond politics.”
Marcos made the remark when asked if he is concerned that, former US President Donald Trump, should he get reelected, would not offer the same “ironclad commitment” to the Mutual defence Treaty (MDT) between Manila and Washington.
Signed on August 30, 1951, the MDT states thatboth nations would support each other if an external party attacked either one of them.
READ: US affirms ironclad commitment to PH defence pact
“I believe what we have agreed with the United States are beyond politics,” Marcos said in a forum in Manila Hotel, adding that “those treaty agreements must be honored.”
Marcos, however, noted that US President Joe Biden’s reelection will provide a “solid ground” due to both leaders’ previous engagements.
READ: Marcos: PH-US-Japan summit ‘a natural progression’ of deeper ties
Solid ground
“If President Biden is reelected, then we have a fairly solid ground to base our positions on because we have already spoken with him,” Marcos pointed out.
Signed on August 30, 1951, the MDT states that both nations would support each other if an external party attacked either one of them.
Marcos’ latest engagement with Biden occurred during the trilateral summit held in Washington on April 12, which is the first-ever meeting of such kind between the Philippines, US, and Japan.
This unprecedented move comes amid the mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
The resupply activity of BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin Shoal and the humanitarian activities in Scarborough Shoal become the flashpoint of tensions between Manila and Beijing.
Beijing asserts sovereignty in the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.