Metro Manila, Philippines – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said there has been no change in the Philippines–United States alliance despite Washington’s renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere under President Donald Trump, describing the shift as a natural prioritization rather than a retreat from Asia.
Romualdez said it is expected for the United States to give greater attention to developments in its immediate region, particularly amid issues involving migration, border security, trade, and regional stability in the Americas.
He stressed that this does not diminish U.S. treaty commitments in the Indo-Pacific or its alliance with the Philippines.
“It’s natural for the United States to prioritize the Western Hemisphere,” Romualdez said on Thursday. “That does not mean there is a downgrading of alliances in Asia or with the Philippines.”
The ambassador spoke as Philippine and U.S. officials marked 80 years of diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty during the launch of a commemorative logo at the SM Mall of Asia Globe in Pasay City.
Recent U.S. security and defense strategy documents have placed stronger emphasis on maintaining U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, prompting concerns among some Asian partners that Washington’s focus on the Indo-Pacific could weaken.
Romualdez said long-standing alliance mechanisms, including the Mutual Defense Treaty and ongoing defense cooperation, remain firmly in place.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing echoed that position, saying there are no major changes to U.S. commitments to the Philippines or the region.
“We are friends, we are partners and allies, and each day working together side by side to advance both the Philippine and the American people,” Ewing said.
Ewing added that while the event marked the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, it also underscored the enduring nature of the alliance.
Philippine officials said Manila continues to view Washington as a reliable security partner amid regional tensions, including in the South China Sea, even as the United States balances multiple global priorities.
