President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned from a three-day official visit to Washington, D.C. with over USD 21 billion in investment pledges, reinforcing key energy, infrastructure, and security partnerships with the United States.

“We return to the Philippines with over USD 21 billion in investment pledges that have the potential to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Filipinos within our country,” Marcos said during his arrival statement on July 23.

While in Washington, Marcos met with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. 

“We discussed enhanced cooperation on cybersecurity, energy supply, resilience and critical infrastructure,” the President said, adding that he highlighted the need for continued multilateral engagement “to reinforce the network of common alliances in the region.”

The White House pledged an additional USD 15 million under the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative, on top of USD 48 million in foreign-assisted projects.

“In my meeting with President Trump, we reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty. I thank the United States for its consistent support for the preservation of regional peace and stability and for upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea,” said Marcos.

The President emphasized that economic security and trade relations must be fair and reciprocal. 

“I conveyed to President Trump that we remain positive about the future of PH US trade, including investment relations, especially in the context of economic security and a fair, balanced reciprocal trade.”

As part of the diplomatic milestone, Marcos confirmed that the Philippines will host Trump at the ASEAN meetings next year, which will also mark the 80th anniversary of PH-US diplomatic relations and 75 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty.

The President also met with executives from infrastructure, semiconductor, healthcare, and investment firms to expand the country’s economic engagements.

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Photo Credit: PCO Website