Philippine President Marcos Reaffirms US Alliance Amid South China Sea Tensions

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting the United States for high-level talks with President Donald Trump, focusing on strengthening the Philippines-US alliance amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. Marcos secured explicit commitments from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty covers Philippine forces anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, emphasizing the importance of deterrence and regional stability. The discussions also aim to reinforce economic cooperation, particularly through the Luzon Economic Corridor, and address trade issues, including US tariffs on Philippine imports that threaten to rise if no agreement is reached by August 1. Marcos is the first Southeast Asian leader to meet President Trump during his second term, highlighting the strategic significance of the alliance. Despite protests from Filipino groups in the US concerned about migrant rights and trade disadvantages, Marcos reiterated the visit's goal to reaffirm defense, security, and economic ties. Both sides emphasized their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with Washington expanding trilateral security cooperation with the Philippines and Japan to counter China's assertiveness in the region.