"Mayroon pong suporta mula sa magkabilang partido" para sa pagpapatibay ng ugnayan sa pagitan ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas, ayon kay US Vice President Kamala Harris sa kaniyang pakikipag-usap kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nitong Martes, ilang araw bago siya bumaba sa puwesto bilang pangalawang pinakamataas na opisyal ng tradisyunal na kaalyado ng Pilipinas.
Marcos Jr. talked. and Harris in a phone call on Tuesday night, less than a week before Donald Trump—known for his protectionist policies—is reinstated as the head of the United States, the Philippines' biggest supporter against China's occupation of the West Philippine Sea.
"I believe that there is support from both sides of Congress and within the United States for the strength of our relationship and its continued growth in terms of security, development, and especially people-to-people relations," said Harris.
"It is important for me and the United States to reaffirm our commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea," he added.
Marcos thanked Harris for his contribution to deepening the relationship between Manila and Washington, especially in the fields of economy, diplomacy, defense, and security.
"The amount of work done and the progress in the relationship between our two countries is amazing," said the Philippine President.
"A very strong relationship that continues to evolve to meet the modern challenges we face, not only here in the South China Sea but also around the world with the United States," he added.
Marcos emphasized the importance of the trilateral agreement signed by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan in April 2024.
"As I told President Biden when we talked... it will change the dynamic of the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific, and it has certainly done that," said Marcos.
The Philippines hopes to "grow it further and continue working" with the United States on programs based on shared values and international law, he said.
Before the call ended, Marcos Jr. invited. Harris who visited the Philippines again.
Marcos Jr. has met and Harris at least five times from 2022 to 2024 in Manila, Jakarta, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Their phone conversation took place days after Marcos spoke with outgoing US President Joe Biden in a trilateral video call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Trump's return to power worries some analysts, as the Republican leader has said several times he will cut US funding for its allies and launch a new campaign against immigrants in the world's largest economy.
Trump will take the oath of office on January 20. Marcos was not invited to the event, but he will be represented by US Ambassador to the Philippines Jose Manuel Romualdez.
