Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — It is a “welcome evolution” in geopolitics for the Philippines to seek alliances with European countries, including the United Kingdom, in areas of security and defense, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told UK’s visiting top diplomat on Tuesday.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly paid a courtesy call on Marcos at the Malacañan Palace after his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
\”There is a shift for Europe to look post-pandemic to the region, to Asia, Southeast Asia, to begin with for the transformation of our economies, and to improve the positioning of all our economies, post-pandemic,\” Marcos told Cleverly.
\”It is not traditional for us to look to Europe to seek alliances and partnerships when it comes to security and defense, but that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days,\” the chief executive said.
Marcos added that it \”is a welcome evolution in my view, and again your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent.\”
During their meeting, Manalo and Cleverly signed a statement of intent to \”further elevate\” the UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership.
READ: PH, UK commit to further strengthen defense, maritime cooperation, other partnerships
The British foreign secretary said he had a “very good meeting” with his Philippine counterpart.
\”It was really a kind of an audit of two countries that are, I think, instinctively, very much like-minded, with very, very similar attitudes to world affairs, and very similar appetites to try and make the most of the bilateral relationship as well as the UK’s focus on Southeast Asia,\” he relayed to Marcos.
Cleverly expressed gratitude that the Philippines \”has been supportive of the UK’s positions,\” and for Manila’s friendship and partnership.
He mentioned May Parsons, the Filipino nurse who administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, which showed “the real symbiotic relationship that we have with the two countries.”
\”I know that you are very focused on attracting inward investment into the country and I’ve been discussing with our ambassador about UK export finance facility which I hope would encourage UK companies to invest more broadly,\” Cleverly said.
He said other areas where the two countries can \”work very, very close together\” are in climate change and renewable energy generation.
