Marcos heads to White House with some Washington momentum

WASHINGTON - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr heralded deeper ties with the US after meeting top officials in Washington.

The test of whether that is true will come on July 22 when President Donald Trump welcomes him to the White House.

That Oval Office encounter will take place after visits by several foreign leaders

eager to make deals before the US-imposed Aug 1 tariff deadline.

On July 21, Mr Marcos went to both the Pentagon and State Department as his government tries to slash pending 20 per cent tariffs and bolster the bilateral security and investment relationship between the two allies.

“Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today, and together we remain committed to the Mutual Defence Treaty,” Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in remarks alongside Mr Marcos.

He called the Asia-Pacific “our priority theatre” and said the US was “proud to support our mutual economic vitality, including your efforts to modernise your armed forces and collective defence”.

Mr Hegseth also lauded “remarkable strides” in the relationship since his March visit to the region, pointing to

expanded joint military exercises

in and around the South China Sea as well as the deployment of cutting-edge missiles and unmanned systems, and the revitalisation of defence industrial bases on both sides.

Mr Marcos spoke of how “you cannot limit Philippine-American relationship to one dimension” and said Mr Hegseth’s March visit “sent a very clear message about our continuing partnership and our continuing understanding of the mutual defence treaty”.

‘Friends, partners’

Later on July 21, Mr Marcos and Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated a relationship as “friends, partners and allies” committed to regular high-level engagement, according to State spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

The two discussed a range of security issues and also addressed investment, including building on the Luzon Economic Corridor – an initiative started under then President Joe Biden.

Above all the minister-level diplomacy, however, looms the always-present possibility that Mr Trump could torpedo the script when the two presidents sit in the Oval Office. 

Mr Marcos has described the higher 20 per cent tariff rate as “very severe”, and said he would push for a trade deal with the US to lower the duty.

He is the latest global leader to face a Trump administration ready to economically punish security allies, injecting stress into long and venerable relationships.

Japan and South Korea, for instance, have strong ties to the US, but that did not stop Mr Trump from threatening higher duties.

“With security deeply intertwined with economics, punitive measures from the United States will not inspire confidence in US allies and will perpetuate doubt at the United States’ willingness to help Asian economies buffer against Chinese economic coercion,” said Mr Japhet Quitzon, associate fellow at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

There is pressure on Mr Marcos to secure a deal, as Mr Trump has announced agreements with South-east Asian neighbours Vietnam and Indonesia. 

While the Philippines is less trade-dependent than its regional peers, having a higher tariff rate would make it less attractive to investors.

Mr Marcos also needs an economic accomplishment after a midterm election setback that showed the strength of his ally-turned-rival, Vice-President Sara Duterte, that risks undermining his authority in the latter half of his six-year term.

His government is aiming to grow the economy by at least 5.5 per cent in 2025 – lower than earlier forecasts as Mr Trump’s tariffs loom.

The office of the US Trade Representative and the Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment on July 21.

Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said of the US-Philippines trade agenda: “Perhaps this will be a topic of discussion – you will all see for yourselves in the Oval Office, as you always do.

“But the Aug 1 deadline is just the – really, the start date for when the United States of America will begin collecting this revenue from all of the countries around the world who the President has sent these letters to.”

The Philippine leader has already restored security relations with the US that were strained under his predecessor, Mr Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father.

In just three years of his presidency, Mr Marcos expanded US access to military bases, hosted thousands of American soldiers for drills, and allowed the deployment of a US missile system.

Fostering the alliance with Manila will be equally crucial for Mr Trump, as his administration seeks to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific.

The Philippines sits at a strategically important location near two regional flashpoints: Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Confronting China

US officials have repeatedly assured Manila of an “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines – the US’ oldest military ally in Asia – as Manila increasingly confronts Beijing in disputed waters.

To show that the security alliance could extend to economic relations, the US earlier pledged to support Philippine infrastructure projects, and bring in US$1 billion (S$1.28 billion) worth of investments.

“Making concessions on defence is one good way of securing a trade deal, given that pushing allies to do more is one of Trump’s priorities,” Mr Darren Tay, head of Asia country risk at Fitch Solutions research unit BMI, said on a webinar last week.

Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has been optimistic about the White House meeting, as well as the prospect of the two countries reaching a free trade agreement down the line, citing Mr Trump’s gesture to invite Mr Marcos to stay at Blair House in Washington.

The two leaders also share a personal connection, with Mr Marcos’ mother, former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, an acquaintance of Mr Trump.

“That means something, that you are obviously given importance by your host,” the ambassador said. BLOOMBERG