QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington D.C. on Sunday afternoon, April 30 (Washington time) for his official visit where he will reaffirm the special relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

Aside from advancing the Philippine economic agenda on agriculture, power, infrastructure, and new technologies, the Chief Executive expects to discuss changes in the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US.

President Marcos recognizes the need to update the Treaty to keep up with the changing times.

“The reason it has to evolve is because the conditions are changing. The conditions that --- under which the Mutual Defense Treaty was written, the original one, are completely different from the conditions that we have --- we’re facing now,” President Marcos said.

The President will also reiterate its position about maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region amid global tensions as well as enhancing the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the global dialogue. 

“To put our position forward, and to say that it... kami wala kaming interes kung hindi maging peaceful lang ang region namin. Talagang hindi magka-problema ang mga Pilipino, ‘yun lang naman ang habol natin,” said the President. 

He mentioned that the country will continuously “works for peace” and expressed assurance that the Philippines will not be used as a “staging post” for any military action amid tensions in the region. This is following the successful Balikatan exercises being conducted in the country.

Balikatan, which serves as the largest annual exercise between the Philippines and the US, aims to develop interoperability and enhance bilateral capacities in a wide range of areas, including maritime security, cyber defense, and counterterrorism. |

The Chief Executive is expected to meet with US President Joseph “Joe” Biden on the first day of his visit and will have an expanded meeting with key Cabinet officials.

On the sideline of this state visit, President Marcos will also meet with major US companies and business organizations to promote the country as a trading partner and investment market.

Moreover, the President is also expected to deliver a major policy speech in the Think Tank and is expected to meet the Filipino community.

The Philippines and the United States have a longstanding relationship and maintain a shared commitment to continually evolve for a dynamic economic relationship. (KSAA – PIA CPSD)