Rubio, Philippine FM Meet to Bolster South China Sea Stability
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro to discuss a range of bilateral economic and security priorities, including the Philippines' ASEAN chair year as well as efforts to advance peace and security in the South China Sea," a US State Department statement said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — an 11-member regional bloc — is chaired by the Philippines for 2026. On the economic front, Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to a key trilateral development initiative. "The secretary reaffirmed the US commitment to developing the Luzon Economic Corridor and exploring ways to address energy challenges in the region," the statement said. The corridor is a joint undertaking between the US, Japan, and the Philippines.
Rubio also used the meeting to underscore the enduring strength of a decades-old alliance. He "emphasized the strength of the United States-Philippines Alliance and continued close cooperation as the two countries commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years as allies in 2026," the statement added. The Philippines holds the distinction of being among Washington's oldest military partners in the Asia-Pacific, bound by a mutual defense agreement.
Lazaro characterized the exchange as constructive, writing on X that the two sides "engaged in discussions on our strategic partnership across multiple fronts."
"Our dialogue focused on strengthening economic diplomacy. We also reaffirmed our strong maritime cooperation and shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions," she added.
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