THE PHILIPPINES will open four foreign offices in North America and the Asia-Pacific region, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
This, as the Southeast Asian nation broadens its diplomatic reach and pushes an “independent foreign policy.”
The Philippines opened four embassies in Europe and Latin America last year, Mr. Marcos told the diplomatic corps during the vin d’honneur at the presidential palace in Manila late on Saturday.
The country’s foreign service posts this year will reach 102 in total, with more missions set to open, he added.
By the end of 2025, the Philippines will have had 102 posts, effectively widening its reach globally, he said.
“We are poised to establish more down the road,” Mr. Marcos said. “We welcomed the opening of some embassies in Manila in 2024, such as Bahrain and Slovenia, and are eager to welcome new foreign missions in the years to come, such as from Central Asia.”
Mr. Marcos said his government’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy has allowed the Philippines “to function and flourish in the complex web of interactions with various international actors.”
The Philippines, through international partnerships, has increased its bilateral engagements and cooperation with traditional partners and new allies in key economic sectors and security areas.
Manila has boosted its partnership with the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.
In 2023, it gave the US access to four more military bases on top of the five existing sites under their 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
The Philippine leader said his country’s foreign policy would remain anchored on “peace” and would continue fostering cooperation. It will help ensure international law is “faithfully complied with.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
