President Marcos meets US envoys to India and PH, reaffirms century-old alliance

MANILA, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday welcomed newly appointed US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor to Malaca ang Palace.Malacanang said the courtesy call aimed to further 'strengthen regional cooperation, economic ties, and digital trade.'Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to pay Marcos a courtesy call when he arrives in Manila to participate in the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Manila.The President and the two American envoys reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific while further strengthening the enduring, century-old Philippines-US alliance.The meeting served as 'a prelude' to the upcoming Quad Ministerial Meeting, which a US lawmaker is expected to attend, the Palace said in a statement.It will be held on the sidelines of the 59th AMM and Related Meetings from July 20 to 24, which will focus on advancing the newly launched Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration.The courtesy call also comes during the 'milestone' year marking 80 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the US, following Lipton's presentation of credentials to Marcos in June.Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Presidential Communication Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez were among the Cabinet members who attended the courtesy call.