Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States Senate has confirmed businessman Lee Lipton as the next US ambassador to the Philippines.
According to the US Senate website, Lipton was confirmed on May 18 by a 46-43 vote. He will replace MaryKay Carlson.
Lipton was nominated in January and went through confirmation hearings at the Senate foreign relations committee.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said he recently met with Lipton ahead of the deployment to Manila.
“Pleasure to meet incoming U.S. Amb to the PH Lee Lipton before he departs to PH,” Romualdez said in a social media post.
“We had a productive exchange on PH-US relations #FriendsPartnersAllies and opportunities as we commemorate 80 yrs of PH-US relations. Looking forward to working with him!” he added.
The Philippines and US are marking 80 years of diplomatic relations this year, while the two allies are also preparing for the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.
During his confirmation hearing, Lipton reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its alliance with Manila, including obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Lipton was interim permanent representative of the US Mission to the Organization of American States, where he handled interagency coordination on foreign policy priorities in the Western Hemisphere.
Romualdez earlier said Lipton is expected to arrive in Manila by mid-June to begin his diplomatic posting.
