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The top U.S. diplomat in the Philippines said Wednesday that “strong bipartisan support” from Washington will ensure the U.S. and the Philippines remain “steadfast friends and ironclad allies,” regardless of who wins the White House.
When asked how a second Trump presidency might impact the relationship, especially with Manila’s ongoing maritime dispute with Beijing, Ambassador MaryKay Carlson noted that the U.S. first expressed support for the 2016 arbitral ruling against China’s claims during Trump’s initial term.
“Remember, when you think about the security situation here in the Indo-Pacific, it was under the Trump administration that (then) Secretary of State [Mike] Pompeo came out and lent credence and support to the arbiter ruling that weighed in favor of the Philippines with regard to access and rights (to its exclusive economic zone),” Carlson said.
READ: PH marks 8th anniversary of arbitral ruling on West Philippine Sea
She also stressed that US assistance to the Philippine military had been enjoying bipartisan support in the US Congress, as shown in bills providing $500 million (or some P29 billion) for the modernization of the armed forces and another $128 million (or about P7.
