Washington, 22 July (H.S.): Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in Washington, DC, on Monday prior to the Marcos-Trump meeting. They highlighted the significance of the strong U.S.-Philippines Alliance for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, reaffirming their commitment to deterrence and freedom of navigation.

Discussions included advancing shared prosperity through the Luzon Economic Corridor, focusing on supply chain strengthening and economic growth. Both leaders expressed eagerness for regular high-level engagements as allies, especially in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar