President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Wednesday night with over USD 21 billion in investment pledges and renewed strategic commitments from the United States following a three-day official visit to Washington, D.C. The plane carrying Marcos and his delegation landed in Manila around 10:07 p.m., as reported by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
In his arrival message, Marcos stated that the visit, held at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, reaffirmed the “breadth and depth” of the Philippines–US alliance across security, economic, and geopolitical cooperation. “We reaffirmed our mutual commitment to further strengthening our longstanding alliance and growing our economies for the benefit of the people and in pursuit of our national interest,” he said.
During meetings with Trump, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Marcos highlighted the alliance’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific amid China’s assertiveness. “We reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty,” he noted, mentioning discussions on cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, and energy security.
The US pledged USD 15 million in new support for private sector development under the Luzon Economic Corridor, along with USD 48 million in additional foreign assistance. Marcos also engaged with top executives in semiconductors, healthcare, and infrastructure, securing investment pledges worth over USD 21 billion, which he stated could create thousands of jobs for Filipinos and enhance “economic security and resilience.”
The President emphasized the importance of fair and reciprocal trade as a foundation for future relations. “We remain positive about the future of PH-US trade, including investment relations, especially in the context of economic security and fair, balanced, reciprocal trade,” he said.
Marcos concluded his visit by inviting Trump to attend next year’s ASEAN Summit in Manila, which will coincide with the 80th anniversary of PH-US diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.
