Ahead of United States President Donald Trump’s attendance in this year’s Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila, progressive groups launched a month-long campaign opposing the US leader’s visit, citing concerns over US military and economic activities in the Philippines and their impact on farmers’ land, livelihoods and food security.
Launched at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus grounds, the campaign, dubbed ‘TRUMP OUT! Lupa sa Magsasaka, Hindi sa Imperyalista!’, seeks to explain why the groups oppose Trump’s planned visit, which they say comes amid continuing US military, political and economic intervention in the country.
The initiative is part of a multisectoral effort led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) which involves the distribution of anti-Trump leaflets and illustrated comics in public areas of convergence such as transport terminals, markets and malls.
Over the weekend, members of Anakbayan, Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA), Artists for Just Peace, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Artista ng Rebolusyong Pangkultura (ARPAK), National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA)-Youth and Sinagbayan led the information drive to raise public awareness about what they described as American warmongering and involvement in Philippine political, economic and military affairs.
“Trump represents an empire that wages wars, imposes economic coercion and secures other countries’ resources and territories for US corporations and its military-industrial complex. His visit is not about friendship or development but about tightening US control over the Philippines,” KMP underscored in a statement.
The group cited the US-Israel war against Iran, the expansion of US military facilities and exercises in the country and economic initiatives such as Pax Silica as interconnected expressions of US ‘imperialist interests’ in the Philippines.
It warned that these developments could affect local farmers’ livelihood through higher oil and fertilizer costs, disruptions in agricultural supply chains, land grabbing and displacement linked to foreign-backed projects.
‘Trump Out’ advocates also criticized the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for allowing the country to become more deeply involved in US military and economic strategies.
“While the US pours resources into wars, military bases and weapons, our farmers struggle with soaring production costs, government neglect and El Niño. Our land and resources should serve the people, not foreign military and corporate interests. We need genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization, not more EDCA sites, military exercises, Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor,” they pointed out.
