Metro Manila, Philippines— The top defense and foreign affairs officials of the Philippines and the United States will meet in Manila to beef up the alliance on military and economic matters, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
In a statement, the DFA said the fourth Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue (“2+2 Dialogue”) will take place on July 30 among Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III to “discuss how to further enhance our two countries’ commitment to the PH-US alliance.”
The statement said the four ministers are expected to tackle programs and partnerships that would support the rules-based international order amid regional and global security threats
Economic cooperation will also be discussed by Manila and Washington’s top officials.
The statement said Blinken and Austin are expected to pay a courtesy visit to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
