Locsin reaffirms PH-US alliance in Washington

Locsin said the meeting was “vastly enlightening, frank, wide-ranging yet sharply focused on the key issues.” (Photo courtesy: Philippine Embassy in Washington via PNA)

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. met with United States National Security Advisor John Bolton to “deepen” the Philippines-US ties.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, the two officials recognized the role of the two nations’ alliance in maintaining regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

This is the first time Locsin met with Ambassador Bolton since he became the Philippines’ top diplomat.

Locsin said the meeting was “vastly enlightening, frank, wide-ranging yet sharply focused on the key issues.”

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez accompanied the Foreign Affairs chief in the meeting, which took place on Friday (Washington DC time).

The meeting comes a week after the Department of National Defense called for the review of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the US and the Philippines.

Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called for the MDT’s review to see if it is still relevant to the Philippines’ “national interest.”

Former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja agreed that the 1951 MDT must undergo reassessment to determine whether or not the pact is still attuned to current regional and global dynamics.

“For the Philippines, the review will provide the opportunity to re-examine and clarify the degree and depth of US commitment to defend us, including the area of coverage of the Treaty,” he told the Philippine News Agency.