Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.
Locsin, Blinken to hold bilateral strategic dialogue in November
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to hold the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) in November, a key mechanism for consultation and exchange of views on a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues.
The full range of political, security, and economic cooperation between the countries are expected to be discussed during the BSD.
Both officials also agreed to hold the 2 Plus 2 Ministerial Dialogue in early 2022. The 2 Plus 2 Ministerial Dialogue involves a joint meeting between the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the two countries.
Locsin and Blinken met met on Thursday to reaffirm the long-standing alliance and partnership between the Philippines and the United States, as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and 70 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) this year.
Locsin was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and top Philippine foreign affairs officials in his first in-person meeting with Blinken since the Biden administration assumed office in January.
“We want to ramp up our bilateral engagement to ensure that our alliance remains strong and resilient,” Locsin said.
He also underscored the importance of the MDT, stressing the need for the Philippines to enhance its defense capacity to keep its treaty commitments.
They also discussed ways forward in strengthening the defense capabilities of the Philippines.
Locsin conveyed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s deep appreciation for the more than six million vaccines donated by the U.S. to the Filipino people.
