Metro Manila, Philippines — The trilateral phone conversation between the leaders of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States has been rescheduled to tomorrow, January 13.
In a statement to reporters, Malacañang confirmed that the call between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had been postponed due to the ongoing wildfire situation in Los Angeles.
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez emphasized that the teleconference underscores the commitment to enhance cooperation in security and economic matters within the Indo-Pacific region.
“As there is a change of administration here in Washington and a change already took place in Japan, it seems the US, specifically the White House, wants to continue this. Hopefully, and based on all indications, it looks like the Trump administration will carry it forward. So it’s essentially a renewal of the partnership,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez added that the call will also serve as an opportunity for President Biden to bid farewell to his counterparts.
The ambassador expressed confidence that incoming President Donald Trump would continue to support the trilateral relationship.
“I don’t see any reason why it would not continue because it is truly in the best interest of our countries, Japan and the US. I was fortunate to have a productive conversation with President Trump, and all signs point to him wanting to continue the strong relationship between the US and the Philippines. Naturally, Japan remains a crucial part of this, given our shared interests in the region and the importance of economic prosperity,” Romualdez said.
