A visiting United States Senate delegation has reaffirmed its support for the Philippine-US alliance under the second Trump administration, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced Tuesday.
US Senators John Peter Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Christopher Coons (D-Delaware), and Theodore Paul Budd (R-North Carolina) met with Manalo on Monday to discuss defense cooperation, economic security, and regional resilience.
“The meeting ended with the US Congressional delegation reaffirming its commitment and support to the Philippines-US Alliance,” Manalo posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Also present at the meeting were US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). While the DFA has yet to release full details, the senators’ visit follows ongoing efforts to bolster ties amid regional tensions.
In March, Senator Ricketts emphasized the value of Indo-Pacific allies like the Philippines, praising its “incredible resolve” in standing up to Beijing’s “unlawful aggression” in the South China Sea, despite limited military and economic resources.
Coons, meanwhile, had previously raised concerns over the pause in US foreign aid programs, including a counterterrorism initiative in the Philippines.
Both senators also co-authored a Senate resolution during the 73rd anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty in September 2024, reaffirming the US pledge to defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack on its forces or vessels anywhere in the South China Sea.
“There’s a need to send a clear message to Beijing that the United States stands with the Philippines and will act to restore deterrence,” Ricketts said.
Coons added, “We stand with the Filipino people in their efforts to defend their territorial sovereignty and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The senators are key figures in US foreign policy, with Coons and Ricketts on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Budd serving on Armed Services and Commerce-related committees.
