PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., is set to embark on two different foreign trips next month, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday.
Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing that the President will conduct a state visit to Cambodia from Sept. 7 to 9.
He will also fly to New York City (NYC) late in September to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Ms. Castro said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will release further information at a later time.
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said Mr. Marcos’ upcoming state visit to Cambodia is seen as a move to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in agriculture and people-to-people exchanges, while also signaling early lobbying ahead of the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship next year.
With the Philippines aiming to push for a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the trip reflects efforts to engage Cambodia, a close partner of China, and to position Manila as a stabilizing actor amid regional tensions.
“One may remember that during Cambodia’s Chairship, the dispute over the tensions in the South China Sea was not mentioned in the communique that was released after the Summit, which is reflective of its intention to maintain its position vis-a-vis Beijing,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“The visit may also be a way for the Philippines to show that it is willing to broker a more stable ceasefire in light of the tensions that happened recently between Cambodia and Thailand,” he noted.
His last visit to Phnom Penh was in November 2022.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos’ attendance at the UNGA next month is expected to advance the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat in 2026, Mr. Cortez noted.
The President is likely to emphasize the country’s commitment to international agreements and its role as a credible partner in promoting peace and stability despite regional vulnerabilities, he added.
“With the elections happening in the second quarter of 2026, this visit will be strategic, as we can expect the President to highlight how, despite tensions and vulnerabilities, we strive to adhere to the international agreements and covenants we are a state party to — hence, making us a credible actor in promoting global peace and stability,” he noted.
Mr. Marcos delivered a speech before the UNGA last September 2022. His last visit to the US was in July, when we met with US President Donald J. Trump to discuss trade and defense. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
