Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — Experts claimed the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits helped revive the relationship between the United States and the Philippines.
Political analyst Dindo Manhit told CNN Philippines’ On The Record that the recent bilateral talks between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump strengthened U.S.-Philippine ties.
“The Summit created an opportunity to do a reboot of this U.S.-Philippine relationship. Remember October of the last year… right after the China trip of the President. Some statements came out that could’ve affected not only the nation-to-nation relationship but also possible investment decisions done by American companies because the fear of… a falling apart of the relationship,” Manhit said.
ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council Director-General for Operations Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. said there was rapport between the two leaders during their bilateral talks on Monday, due to shared interests.
“I feel that what had been discussed were common issues of interest, mainly terrorism, things that are flashpoints, actually. North Korea, and issue of that nature, mostly on security. There were quite a number of discussions of course on the economic side of things,” Paynor Jr said.
Trump was in the Philippines to attend the ASEAN-East Asia Summit on November 14 and hold bilateral talks with the Philippines, but had to leave Tuesday afternoon because of delays to the schedule.
READ: U.S. President Trump leaves PH, skips East Asian Summit
Before Trump left, he acknowledged the sour relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines in the past year, but is now happy with the turnaround.
“We were having a lot of problems with the Philippines. The relationship with the past administration was horrible – which is a nice word, I would say ‘horrible’ is putting it mildly,” Trump said. “It’s really important that we get along with the Philippines, and we really do. We have a very good relationship. I would actually say probably better than ever before.”
In 2016, Duterte cussed at Obama, telling him to “go to hell” after the former president criticized the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs.
But Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Babe Romualdez said Wednesday that Trump and Duterte have good chemistry.
On his first day in Manila, Trump commended the ASEAN gala dinner, and Duterte sang Pinoy classic “Ikaw” on stage upon Trump’s request.
Before he left the Philippines, he said the U.S. relationship with the country was important, especially due to the Philippines’ strategic military location.
“It is a strategic location, the most strategic location. If you look at it, it’s called the most prized piece of real estate from the military standpoint,” he said.
READ: U.S. President Trump leaves PH, skips East Asian Summit
Manhit hopes that with the warmer ties with the U.S., the two leaders can build on the initial meetings and discussions.
“Maybe on critical issues, we can really work together,” he said.
