President Biden committed to defending Philippines in first meeting with Philippines' president

The American president reaffirmed the U.S.'s "ironclad" commitment to the Philippines in his first bilateral meeting with its leader, as he seeks to strengthen the alliance between the Philippines and the United States.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Biden on Thursday during the United Nations General Assembly. The late Philippine dictator's son and namesake took office on June 30.

During their discussion, the two leaders stressed their support for "freedom of navigation, overflight, and a peaceful resolution" in the South China Sea.

Their discussions also included strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy security, climate action, and infrastructure development. A congratulatory message was sent by Biden to the Philippines for condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"There are very deep roots between the Philippines and the United States. We’ve had some rocky times, but the fact is it’s a critical relationship from our perspective,” he said during a press briefing.

23 September 2022