Metro Manila, Philippines— Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a phone conversation on Thursday to discuss the growing Philippine-US alliance.
The conversation took place ahead of the fourth Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (“2+2 Dialogue”) in Manila on July 30.
Manalo and Blinken will meet with their defense counterparts, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III to “discuss how to further enhance our two countries’ commitment to the PH-US alliance.”
In a statement, US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said the two officials reiterated the importance of the United States-Philippines partnership.
“They spoke about shared priorities both in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world,” the statement added.
Blinken also expressed his sympathies to the Filipino people following the devastation of Typhoon Carina (Gaemi).
“Secretary Blinken further shared condolences for those in the Philippines who have died or been displaced as a result of Typhoon Gaemi and recent monsoon-related flooding. The Secretary noted that the United States stands ready to provide assistance,” the statement added.
