President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. emphasized significant advancements in the partnership between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan during a trilateral phone call on Monday with outgoing US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The discussion followed the adoption of a joint vision statement in April 2024.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, January 12, the call was rescheduled at Washington’s request due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
Marcos reaffirmed the commitment of the three nations to strengthening collaboration in key areas, including economic growth, maritime security, and technological innovation.
“I am confident that our three countries will continue to work together closely to sustain the gains that we have made,” he said.
The trilateral partnership has focused on fostering economic resilience, advancing clean energy, addressing climate issues, and ensuring peace and stability. Biden lauded the progress made since the April summit, particularly in maritime and economic security, technology, and infrastructure development.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba echoed the importance of enhancing cooperation across various sectors, highlighting the need to deepen ties further.
During the 2024 summit, Marcos underscored the critical role of ensuring security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, an ongoing focus of the trilateral partnership.
