Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japan Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi (right to left) meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meeting in Malaysia on July 10, 2025. The US State Department said Saturday (July 12, 2025) that the Philippines, the US, and Japan are focused on developing their trilateral economic partnership to complement their growing security ties. (Photo courtesy of DFA)
The Philippines, the United States, and Japan are stepping up efforts to expand their trilateral economic partnership, aiming to match the strength of their growing security cooperation, according to a statement released by the US State Department on Saturday.
During a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ summit in Malaysia on July 10, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi mapped out plans to ramp up private sector investments—particularly in the Luzon Economic Corridor, a key initiative designed to boost infrastructure and economic activity in the northern Philippines.
Rubio emphasized the Philippines’ rich deposits of critical minerals, underscoring the urgency of diversifying global supply chains away from overdependence on any one region. The three leaders also discussed deepening collaboration in areas vital to economic resilience and security, including cybersecurity, civil nuclear energy, and the development of secure telecommunications infrastructure.
To drive these plans forward, the three countries committed to holding sector-focused trilateral meetings at the senior officials’ level in the coming months.
The discussions also covered the Indo-Pacific region, with all three nations reaffirming their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based order. They agreed to enhance maritime security cooperation through joint military exercises, capacity-building programs, and expanded support for the Philippine Coast Guard and other maritime agencies.
Lazaro described the US and Japan as “indispensable partners” in strengthening the Philippines’ defense and security capabilities. She also expressed Manila’s gratitude for their continued support on the South China Sea issue and for the United States’ unwavering commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty.
This trilateral push signals a growing convergence among the three nations—not just in deterring threats, but also in building a more resilient and prosperous region.