Marcos to meet US defense chief today
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to meet with United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin II in Malacañang today, Nov. 18. Austin's visit to Manila, his fourth, is part of the US government's continuing efforts to enhance its alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Austin was in Manila last July with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken where they and Marcos agreed to have regular meetings to ensure a timely response to issues amid continuing tension in the disputed South China Sea. In that same meeting, Austin gave assurances that the US would provide more than $600 million in military assistance to the Philippines. He reaffirmed his government's commitment to doubling investments for the development of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country. President Joe Biden included in this year's budget request more than $128 million for EDCA infrastructure projects. Marcos has said he doesn't see any major change in US-Philippine relations with the election of Donald Trump as president. "They are our oldest treaty partner; that doesn't change," he said. From Manila, Austin will fly to Laos and Fiji to participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral conferences.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to meet with United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin II in Malacañang today, Nov. 18.
Austin's visit to Manila, his fourth, is part of the US government's continuing efforts to enhance its alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
Austin was in Manila last July with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken where they and Marcos agreed to have regular meetings to ensure a timely response to issues amid continuing tension in the disputed South China Sea.
In that same meeting, Austin gave assurances that the US would provide more than $600 million in military assistance to the Philippines.
He reaffirmed his government's commitment to doubling investments for the development of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country.
President Joe Biden included in this year's budget request more than $128 million for EDCA infrastructure projects.
Marcos has said he doesn't see any major change in US-Philippine relations with the election of Donald Trump as president.
"They are our oldest treaty partner; that doesn't change," he said.
From Manila, Austin will fly to Laos and Fiji to participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral conferences.
