On June 12, as the Philippines celebrated its 128th Independence Day, the United States reaffirmed its 'ironclad' mutual defense commitment to the country. In a message from the US Department of State, Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended warm greetings to the Filipino people on behalf of the US government.
Deep-Rooted Alliance
Rubio emphasized the deep alliance between the two nations, rooted in cooperation during World War II and sustained through decades of diplomatic relations. He noted that the US and Philippines are set to celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations, in addition to the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
The US remains committed to standing with the Philippines, which currently serves as ASEAN Chair, as a friend, partner, and ally in maintaining an open and free Indo-Pacific region.
Economic and People-to-People Ties
Rubio also highlighted the deepening economic partnership through the Luzon Economic Corridor and the development of secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals. He underscored the strong people-to-people ties, with over four million Filipino-Americans living in the US and more than 750,000 Americans residing in the Philippines.
The US official expressed hope for further expanding cooperation to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the years ahead.
